Email

Print

So today the council called on the police to enforce their directives. But that didn't go down too well - at the end, hard words had been exchanged, feeling were hurt, and the vendors still hadn't moved. Monica Bodden has a recap of all the rough and tumble action:

Monica Bodden, Reporting
City Council Personnel were once again back in the area of the Queen Square Market Place. This time not alone, as you can see there were police officers everywhere. Their intentions were simple - clear the side of the canal where these vendors where not supposed to be today.

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"These people know that are supposed to be out here Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And as I told you before they don't want to obey the law. See, they are out here again."

Monica Bodden
"So today they are not to be out here?"

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"They should not be out here today. Only the retailers should be here. These people do what they want and they are not even from here."

Monica Bodden
"They are complaining about the time, they say it's not fair, they travel from distance to come here to sell their goods. They are complaining that 5 hours are too short to sell their goods."

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"We could look into it and see if the 5 hours are too short but still they don't want to abide by the rules. They are not supposed to be out here. If we give them 7 hours, if we give them 9 hours they will still be out here every day. You believe me what I am telling you."

But these wholesale merchants refused to comply with the new policies of the Council And this morning they all stood firm, setting the record straight that they are not going anywhere.

Benjamin Franco - Wholesale Vendor
"They want us to sell only on Monday and Friday 5 am to 10 am. I come here with my truck loaded, I can't sell everything on Monday from 5 am to 10 am, I have to stay until Tuesday, but sometimes I don't sell everything on Tuesday either, but I have to go home. I come back on Thursday and Friday and by 12, I have to sell everything because I live far in Bella Vista in the south, I come from far."

Monica Bodden
"So what are they telling you guys? You guys have to pack up and leave?"

Benjamin Franco - Wholesale Vendor
"Yes. But I am telling them that nobody move no matter what happen."

Vendor
"What is unfair is unfair. I think it's unfair because they want to move us from this place. They need to give us time to sell and then we go, they are charging us $10 every day, leave us to sell our vegetables and fruits. This is unfair what they are doing to us. Leave us here to sell and then we go. We are not disturbing anyone. The traffic can pass anytime, we are willing to pay our fee and let us sell here from 5 am to 12 pm at least. If not, we are not going to move from here."

They were reports this morning that the vendors were all armed - awaiting the City Council officials. But we found out differently.

Vendor
"I want to take you back there to show you how that area is. It is stink back there when it rains."

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"I am going to see it right now."

Vendor
"How you work?"

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"Why don't you sell your fruits in Cayo where you live? Why you come to Belize City."

All these vendors wanted this morning was an audience with the councilor in charge of Market and his officials - but before that happened, they were given a number of tickets from the traffic department for not adhering to the sign that says no vending.

And they were also given the cold shoulder from some of the Council's officers. One such example is Market Manager - Bernadette Saldivar who walked away from the crowd when they approached her…. she was even accused of calling them the "A" word.

Benjamin Franco - Wholesale Vendor
"She call me the "A" word two times. She says that she does not want to see the camera man. I ask her why she call me that and then she call me the "A" word again and I told her thanks very much."

At one point things even got personal with the councilor and the vendors.

After all was said and done a handful of vendors where granted an audience with councilor Singh AT 1:00 this afternoon at the Commercial Center- to see if they can come up with amicable solution.

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"The conclusion of the meeting is that are trying to find a perfect time and date with the vendors that they could come out and do their business. According to most vendors Mondays and Fridays are the most best days for them because they have people that come from the cayes like San Pedro, Caye Caulker who comes to buy their vegetables and things and so when we give them Tuesdays and Thursdays its not much of a busy days for them. They are asking us to give them Monday from 9 am to 5 pm, and then they stay overnight for Tuesday 5 am to 1 pm that's what they are asking for. Thursdays and Fridays is the same they want. There will be no vending on Wednesdays, so the canal side suppose to be clear from vending and then on Saturday they want from 5 am to 1 pm. They agree with us that there will be no vending on the canal side after 1 pm. So I have to take this in to the council and we have to sit down and discuss and decide what we are going to do from here. In the meanwhile, we are trying to keep them off the side of the canal side. The ones that sleep there, we are trying to put them in the temporary market where the busses park. We are asking them to pay a fee of $5 so that they can put their vehicles in there and 5 am in the morning you come to take it out and do your vending."

And one last thing that these vendors request is a public apology by Market manager Bernadette Saldivar - for insulting them with the "A" word.

Kevin Singh - Councilor responsible for Market and Security
"I wasn't out there but I would say that it was said by the vendors that Mrs. Saldivar had really didn't treat them with respect and if she didn't I am going to ask her to really give the people an apology."

Next week Friday, councilor Singh will visit with the vendors to give them the final decision..