Frustrated New Amsterdam Market vendors on Wednesday took to the streets in the township to protest against the Mayor and Town Council over a 100% hike in weekly stall and washroom prices.
According to one of the vendors, they were told that the stall fees were moved from $500 to $1000 while washroom fees were moved from $40 to $100.
“We used to pay $500, we ask them to take a $200 more, let them take a $700 but them hold out to put it to $1000, we can’t afford that, it very hard because watch how many supermarkets open and deh here, the girls selling hard, it really hard on them”, one vendor stated.
Another vendor, Farida Mohan who has operated in the New Amsterdam Market for over thirty-seven years stated, “this market was very nice but since new one take over, the market going worse and worse and worse.”
She continued, “I can’t afford to pay this money, we can’t afford to pay it, the market fee $1,000 for one stall, I have three stall so I have to pay for three, then I got to pay the cart man them $800 and $1000, then I have to bring the car to bring me (that) is a $3,000, then I have to pay the load $1,000, when me done what the day me a get? Me can’t get food that day.”
Mohan stressed, “Me can’t afford to do that, the market need justice, the market need cleaning, the market is too nasty, we cleaning we own surroundings, we pay to carry the garbage outside.”
Another vendor Clair Sattaur, who operates four stalls in the market said that she will not be able to pay $4,000 per week for her stalls, “lef out that, when I come in the morning I have to sweep all around my stalls, clean me stall, the garbage you have to pick it up yourself, them say them short a staff, when the garbage truck come you have to fetch the garbage and throw it yourself, you have to cobweb, you have to clean all around you, the council ain’t doing anything and they want more money, that can’t work.”
Tiffany, who has sold for over three years, explained that when they heard of a possible hike, vendors decided to approach the council where a raise to $700 was discussed. “Them say them gonna call we back for a meeting, them never call we back, all them come and say today that from the 1st we got to pay $1,000 for a stall and it hard, business don’t bright in the market all time, business does fluctuate, things does fluctuate it does go and come.”
“We get bills to pay, everybody get family to maintain, things hard right now”, she added.
Meanwhile, officials at the New Amsterdam Mayor and Town Council said that the last time the stall fee was increased was 2014 from $300 to $500.
According to the council officials at a press conference yesterday the market is operating at a loss with expenses being higher, as such the hike is necessary to sustain and develop the market.
