The Town Council campaign, which began last week and continued on Monday, is targeting businesses operating in the Pitt Street, Municipal Market Square area. Persons illegally vending on the road shoulders and business owners encroaching on the government’s reserves were ordered to move or relocate.
The initiative is also a response from the constables who were last week publicly chastised by Debydeen for shunning their duties. On the occasion of the constabulary’s 39th anniversary celebration, he flayed the constables for neglecting their duties and allowing what he labelled as “lawlessness” to abound in the town. Debydeen subsequently challenged them to use their powers under the Standing Orders to do their jobs.
One business proprietor, who had cordoned off the pavement in front of his premises, thereby preventing pedestrians’ free passage, was given 24 hours to remove the semi-permanent barricade comprising of concrete, iron poles and chains. However, unperturbed by the council’s request, the business owner opted not to adhere to the request and was left dumbfounded the following day, when Debydeen and his constables returned with a Bobcat and bulldozed the barricade.
The message was quickly received by other business owners in the vicinity, who immediately began clearing their premises of any and all encumbrances.
The council is not having such an easy task with street vendors, who refuse to relocate to the municipal market. However, Debydeen is adamant all street vendors will be removed by force if they do not voluntarily relocate. “Street vending is illegal and at the same time it is a disadvantage to those vendors who operate within the market,” he noted.
New Amsterdam Market vendors have for years complained bitterly of the negative impact street vending has on their livelihoods. Customers are more likely to purchase what they need on the road from street vendors than go into the market to shop.
According to Debydeen, it was determined that the market has the capacity to accommodate 45 more vendors, so there is no need for anyone to vend on the road. “Space is available [in the market], but to date no one has come forward to see the Town Clerk with regards to acquiring a space,” he stated.
Debydeen admitted that while he is concerned about the effect illegal street vending has on the livelihoods of those who operate in the market, he is more worried about the congestion street vending causes in the town. “It is a hindrance to traffic and a risk to life and limbs; it also causes congestion in the town. It is very worrying to the council to know that carts are being pushed on wheels which are hindrances to motorists and pedestrians,” he explained.
Street vendors illegally occupy pavements, forcing pedestrians to walk in the path of motorists. This practice, Debydeen said, will have to stop. “I would like the people out there to know that council has an activity and we will remove those who are illegally vending on the road, and who are blocking the pavements of our roads and are blocking our gutters by dumping their garbage into it, and those who encumber the road shoulders,” he declared.
Turning his attention to Pitt Street, which is considered the commercial zone of the town, Debydeen noted that the street is so congested that pedestrians can barely pass. He spoke specifically of one business proprietor who is illegally vending at the junction of Pitt Street and Strand Road. “At the head of the street, there is someone vending where vehicles have to turn. They do not realize this is dangerous to their own lives, because motorists could skid and hit them,” he noted.
He also expressed disapproval of the proprietors who “have extended their businesses over the pavement, preventing council from accessing the drains with ease”. During the coming days the council will be reclaiming the pavements of the town. “We are kindly asking them to move their belongings inwards to their properties,” Debydeen said, stressing on the importance of the council gaining access to maintain the drains with hopes of preventing future floods which occur whenever it rains.
