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Resist lawlessness - mayor warns vendors
Published: Saturday | October 16, 2010 4 Comments and 0 Reactions
Dunstan Whittingham, head of the Vendors' Association, in a spirited exchange with vendors at a Kingston and St Andrew Corporation meeting with vendors on Friday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer POINTING TO the renovation of several market facilities and a new push to regulate vending areas downtown, Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie yesterday warned vendors that lawlessness would not be allowed to continue.
The warning came when McKenzie met with a group of concerned vendors at his Church Street [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]offices[/COLOR][/COLOR], one day after a sweeping [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]operation[/COLOR][/COLOR] by the police to remove stalls and other illegal structures in the market district.
"We need to have a clear understanding that lawlessness can't work," McKenzie told the vendors.
He used the Queens Market as an example, saying it has a capacity for more than 400 vendors, but only 19 were actually inside the facility.
"Everybody is out on the road. Redemption Ground can hold (many) more in the annex, but yet hardly anybody is in these markets," McKenzie lamented.
first phase soon ready
One of the renovations the mayor pointed to was the $100 million refurbishing of the Coronation Market in west Kingston.
He said the first phase would be ready next week and could accommodate up to 400 vendors.
McKenzie said at the end of the project in early December, vendors would have new bathrooms, new restaurants, and an [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Internet[/COLOR][/COLOR] café.
In addition, he said renovation work was far advanced at the fish market.
McKenzie said the Kingston and St [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Andrew [COLOR=blue !important]Corporation[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] would also embark on a drive to remark and replace signs in the more than 14 designated vending areas in the market district.
"But a telling you, we going to do everything to help you, but we can't help you when you go outside the prescribed vending areas.
"So let us understand, ladies and gentlemen, that we have to work as a team, and we are prepared to work with you to ensure that we get the results," McKenzie said.
Head of the Vendors' Association, Dunstan Whittingham, endorsed the mayor's comments, urging his members to clear the streets and cooperate with the police.
Whittingham said vendors were not afraid to stand up for their rights, "but we have to do so in an orderly manner".
Published: Saturday | October 16, 2010 4 Comments and 0 Reactions
Dunstan Whittingham, head of the Vendors' Association, in a spirited exchange with vendors at a Kingston and St Andrew Corporation meeting with vendors on Friday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer POINTING TO the renovation of several market facilities and a new push to regulate vending areas downtown, Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie yesterday warned vendors that lawlessness would not be allowed to continue.
The warning came when McKenzie met with a group of concerned vendors at his Church Street [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]offices[/COLOR][/COLOR], one day after a sweeping [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]operation[/COLOR][/COLOR] by the police to remove stalls and other illegal structures in the market district.
"We need to have a clear understanding that lawlessness can't work," McKenzie told the vendors.
He used the Queens Market as an example, saying it has a capacity for more than 400 vendors, but only 19 were actually inside the facility.
"Everybody is out on the road. Redemption Ground can hold (many) more in the annex, but yet hardly anybody is in these markets," McKenzie lamented.
first phase soon ready
One of the renovations the mayor pointed to was the $100 million refurbishing of the Coronation Market in west Kingston.
He said the first phase would be ready next week and could accommodate up to 400 vendors.
McKenzie said at the end of the project in early December, vendors would have new bathrooms, new restaurants, and an [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Internet[/COLOR][/COLOR] café.
In addition, he said renovation work was far advanced at the fish market.
McKenzie said the Kingston and St [COLOR=blue !important][COLOR=blue !important]Andrew [COLOR=blue !important]Corporation[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] would also embark on a drive to remark and replace signs in the more than 14 designated vending areas in the market district.
"But a telling you, we going to do everything to help you, but we can't help you when you go outside the prescribed vending areas.
"So let us understand, ladies and gentlemen, that we have to work as a team, and we are prepared to work with you to ensure that we get the results," McKenzie said.
Head of the Vendors' Association, Dunstan Whittingham, endorsed the mayor's comments, urging his members to clear the streets and cooperate with the police.
Whittingham said vendors were not afraid to stand up for their rights, "but we have to do so in an orderly manner".
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