By Shuntel Glasgow
Will this be a new trend? This is one of the main questions vendors who ply their trade along the pavement at Muneshwer’s location at Lot 9 and 10 Water, Commerce and Longden streets in Georgetown, are asking after they were ordered by the court to remove.
Vendors on Tuesday told Stabroek News that they were served with notices to vacate the area. However, Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, told vendors on Monday that moves are underway to have them stay until January 15, 2024.
The area along the pavement surrounding Munesh-wer on the east, north, and west sides, has been utilised for vending for many years.
Samantha, also known as ‘Bag Girl’ disclosed that she has been a bag vendor for some 30 years. She described her trade as her “bread and butter.” The mother of three said that she has house rent and utility bills to pay monthly adding that vendors ply their trade along the area because of their financial responsibilities. Selling bags, she stated, is her main source of income. The Christmas season is regarded as her “peak time” since traditionally, there is an increase in customers around the city.
The popular cake and bread pan maker started off with a push cart and later settled 20 years ago along the pavement. Samantha a CSEC graduate, who is now in charge of the business stated that she inherited it from her father. She explained that while she attended primary school her father started his business with a push cart.
When Samantha wrote CSEC she encountered difficulties in finding a job. As vending increased along the pavement, they would usually pay a monthly fee for the spot to the Mayor and City Coun-cil. The pans are hand- made by her father. Since the Christmas season is quickly approaching, she made a huge investment in her business to cater for the high demands of customers. According to her, it will be difficult to start over at a new location.
“When we got the notice saying that we should remove before Christmas, you know how much money was already invested. Looks pans that we are looking at and it’s for the Christmas holiday. I can’t wait until the actual time then to invest the money.”
`Jahcure’ (only name given) who has been selling footwear for children and adults for 27 years, opined that since the Mayor and City Council are being paid for the spots they are occupying, Muneshwer should engage the council about other alternatives besides removing vendors from the location. The man added that the area has attracted customers since it is closer to the market. According to him, the company’s position is that vending along the pavement has a great impact on crime especially robberies. However, he contended that if there is a high presence of police ranks in the city the rate of robberies will decrease significantly. He added that vendors have their responsibilities just as those persons working for the private and public sector.
“We just trying to earn an honest dollar. We cannot stop robberies; we are not even causing it to happen. If police come out and do their job that will stop. Everybody has to pay light bill and water bill like everybody else and for some people, house rent”, she stated.
Meanwhile, Phillip Clarke stated that the situation is worrisome and removing from the area is not the problem but the place of relocation might be ‘deserted’. The drink seller, who is a father of two added that removing people from an area where an income assured, can be a major issue that may result in different reactions and approaches. He added that there has been an increase in crime since the cost of living has significantly increased and some people are without jobs. Clarke added that in similar instances, vendors’ first option is to protest but noted that protesting can be offensive and stigmatizing. Proper alternatives should be explored before a firm decision, he stated.
And Charles Stewart, a food vendor for 15 years, had many questions about the ongoing issue. “What are the alternatives for people?” he asked. Stewart mentioned that all vendors have families, and their trade has been the only thing they have known for many years. He questioned whether the government will cater for the people on a monthly basis since they will not receive an income if they are to be relocated. Stewart questioned Muneshwer’s actions and asked whether it would be a new trend where store owners go to court to remove vendors from the pavement. He added that if this trend is followed by others, what system does the government have in place to combat the issue? Many vendors are on the pavement, bordering many business places. He added that while the income vendors receive might appear to be little, it is a lot in their eyes since they are also paying mortgages. “How can we survive in an economy that is growing?” he asked, while concluding that vendors have no control over crime and proper security measures should be implemented.
Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore met with the vendors on Monday to determine the future of pavement vending at the Muneshwer location following the court ruling.
He stated during the brief discussion that although all vendors depend on their earnings to support their families, neither he nor the vendors can disregard the court order that requires them to remove their products. He stated that the order did not establish a time frame, while disclosing that the mandamus asserts that the property owner claims he is unable to gain access to his building and that people are hanging their belongings on it.
Mentore also pointed out that he heard reports of a vendor who had gotten into an altercation with the owner which might have prompted the order being filed, leaving all the other vendors in a predicament.
The mayor noted he contacted the owner of Muneshwer’s, “I reached out to the owner of this particular place, I also reached out to the attorney and our attorneys so that we can find a tripartite solution on this issue.”
He assured vendors of his desire to find a solution. “My job is to now find a solution to this and to find a way so that you live, they live and we all live.”
