By Nagra Plunkett, Staff ReporterSTREETS VENDORS in Montego Bay, who hope to generate maximum business in the upcoming days, are poised to receive a special Christmas gift from the St. James Parish Council today.
The Council has taken the decision to allow the vendors to move into the Old Shoes Arcade site, location at the intersection of Creek and St. James streets. From there they will be permitted to do business until January 31 next year.
As a condition of them using the new site, the vendors will be required to pay $100 a day to the Council for their allotted spots. The temporary site will be equipped with proper lighting, portable sanitary conveniences and water.
"Many think it is good thing (moving to the old arcade) 'cause it still deh downtown," one vendor told The Gleaner on Tuesday. "If dem (Parish Council) hold up fe dem end a di bargain we nah go 'ave nuh problem in moving from the street to the new site."
According to Christopher Powell, the Acting Secretary/Manager of the St. James Parish Council, upgrading work is now being carried out at the People's Arcade, located on Howard Cooke Boulevard, with a view of providing new accommodation for the vendors after the Christmas season.
Mr. Powell added that the People's Arcade, which was constructed to hold 600 vendors but is now being occupied by only 200, is being upgraded to become "more comfortable for both the vendors and customers."
The Council is also in the process of registering all the vendors in the city. According to Mr. Powell, they will pay a registration fee of $500 and they will in turn receive identification cards, which will be valid for two years. To date, close to 200 vendors have been registered.
Over recent years, illegal vending has been a major sore point in Montego Bay as vendors have been interfering with the free-flow of both pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
There have been several attempts to relocate the vendors to designated marketplaces but to no avail.
Nagra Plunkett
Staff Reporter
STREETS VENDORS in Montego Bay, who hope to generate maximum business in the upcoming days, are poised to receive a special Christmas gift from the St. James Parish Council today.
The Council has taken the decision to allow the vendors to move into the Old Shoes Arcade site, location at the intersection of Creek and St. James streets. From there they will be permitted to do business until January 31 next year.
As a condition of them using the new site, the vendors will be required to pay $100 a day to the Council for their allotted spots. The temporary site will be equipped with proper lighting, portable sanitary conveniences and water.
"Many think it is good thing (moving to the old arcade) 'cause it still deh downtown," one vendor told The Gleaner on Tuesday. "If dem (Parish Council) hold up fe dem end a di bargain we nah go 'ave nuh problem in moving from the street to the new site."
According to Christopher Powell, the Acting Secretary/Manager of the St. James Parish Council, upgrading work is now being carried out at the People's Arcade, located on Howard Cooke Boulevard, with a view of providing new accommodation for the vendors after the Christmas season.
Mr. Powell added that the People's Arcade, which was constructed to hold 600 vendors but is now being occupied by only 200, is being upgraded to become "more comfortable for both the vendors and customers."
The Council is also in the process of registering all the vendors in the city. According to Mr. Powell, they will pay a registration fee of $500 and they will in turn receive identification cards, which will be valid for two years. To date, close to 200 vendors have been registered.
Over recent years, illegal vending has been a major sore point in Montego Bay as vendors have been interfering with the free-flow of both pedestrians and vehicular traffic.
There have been several attempts to relocate the vendors to designated marketplaces but to no avail.
