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MoBay vendors demand more time to sell their wares
December 08, 2020
Dozens of angry vendors in downtown Montego Bay staged a protest yesterday over what they say is the unfair time limit given to them by the St James Municipal Corporation to sell their goods during the Christmas holiday.
They are only allowed to sell between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m. and are restricted to sell along Church Lane, St Cleavers Avenue and sections of Market Street.
The vendors, mostly women, armed themselves with placards and shouted for the immediate resignation of Montego Bay's Mayor, Leeroy Williams. They blocked sections of Church Lane, Church Street and Union Street. A large contingent of policemen and soldiers was deployed to ensure that they protested peacefully
Dorothy Gayle told THE STAR that she is the mother of three children, two of whom are attending high school, and vending is all she does to send them to school.
Dangers of COVID-19
"Di prime minister sey wi fi stop sell at 10 o'clock an wi agree, and everybody a look forward fi get up early in the morning an come catch a sale, but now di mayor a come seh wi caa start sell until 1 p.m.," Gayle said. She said that she is aware of the dangers of COVID-19 but said vendors have abided by all the rules set by the police and municipal corporation, so they feel the time limit is unfair. If they are seen selling outside the time, their goods are seized and they are prosecuted. Williams said the time limit will remain.
"As you are aware there are some streets which are designated for vending and the vendors they know where these streets are, and they are permitted to vend on those streets, so I am not saying they should not come out and vend," he said. "Of course, I agree that more time could be given and I have decided to give them more time so that they can come out early and do their vending. Previously we had asked them to come out at 5 p.m., and they would go up until 1 a.m., and that was before COVID. So am saying now that I will allow them to come out as early as 1 p.m., and they can vend until the time for curfew."
