Clive Simpson, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. JAMES Parish Council has finally served notices on more than 100 dry goods vendors, plying their trade in the Old Shoe Market in downtown Montego Bay, to vacate the premises.
Last December, the Council's commercial services committee, chaired by Councillor Charles Sinclair, sent a recommendation to Council "that the vendors at the Old Shoe Market be served a 60-day notice to vacate the site, as adequate space is available at the People's Arcade to accommodate them."
The committee was also mindful that 'most of the persons at the Old Shoe Market site owned shops at the Peoples' Arcade'.
COMPLETE TURNAROUND
This decision was a complete turnaround from the stance adopted by Council and supported by Member of Parliament for north western St. James, Dr. Horace Chang, following the July 2003 change in political administration. Up to that time, the Montego Bay City Council a subsidiary of the full council had been collaborating with the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, and the Police on a dragged-out programme to have the vendors vacate the site, which they were given temporary custody of following their removal from the streets.
HEALTH HAZARD
But even though the St. James Health Department has been voicing concern for the absence of sanitary facilities on the site, hence the danger posed to public health, the vendors were refusing to leave and became adamant, especially with political backing in the heat of an election campaign.
The Gleaner learned that following deliberations by a sub committee of council over a plan designed by Secretary/Manager Ian Reid 'to minimise the level of confrontation', notices were finally served on the vendors on March 8, effectively giving them a reprieve until April 29.
For years, less than 50 per cent of the over 300 beehive shops at the Peoples' Arcade have been occupied. Furthermore, it has developed a reputation for harbouring questionable characters that engage in illicit activities, much to the chagrin of those vendors who are desirous of conducting their legitimate business in a safe environment.
