Plans in the pipeline to upgrade public marketStaff Writer
Team Unity wants to consult with vendors and other stakeholders before making a decision on how to conduct street vending.
Citizens are concerned about the increased street vending in Basseterre this year. Minister of Public Infrastructure the Hon. Ian Liburd on Tuesday said his administration wants to engagein dialogue and consultation in St. Kitts and Nevis regarding obstruction and possible danger to people who use the sidewalks.
“I am sure that after these consultations we would come up with the best fit where you have established business people who have been on the streets for years in certain parts of Basseterre and then you have those vendors coming up so we have to have some discussions,” he told The Observer. When asked if the government will allocate empty land space to construct small markets in Central Basseterre, Mr. Liburd said, “When we reach that space, we would allocate space for them.”
To have street vendors individuals must demonstrate their will to be entrepreneurs, he said. Street vending is a delicate issue because of necessary quality and standards that must be followed to enhance Basseterre.
“I know some work has been done in terms of rehabilitation,” Liburd said. “I also know there are proposals to really enhance this market because it has been built from the 1950’s or ’60’s and it s about time we have a modern market. I am not at liberty to reveal the contents of the discussions since they are still going on but I can say yes there are plans to enhance the public markets.”
In April, people who sell along Delise Street protested when they were halted from carrying out their daily operations near the Courts outlet. The vendors claimed they were prohibited from being ablt to sell there and that police cones blocked the area. After several days, the cones were removed and people were allowed to park vehicles in the area. Many individuals who do street vending indicated they were not willing to enter the public market because it restricts their operations when the market closes at 6 p.m.
