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Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez warns vendors about “trying a thing” to make an extra dollar. He said city police would be ordered to strongly move in on any business place or vendor that attracts a crowd.
Martinez spoke to Newsday moments after the Prime Minister announced new restrictions on retail outlets, the sale of street food, and 6 am to 8 pm operating hours for businesses.
“So it's not about what vendors could try and do, it’s a matter of trying to preserve our health.
"Unreasonable people can’t keep finding a way to keep the population at risk, we have to take serious responsibility for our actions.”
Martinez was responding to Port of Spain vendors who told Newsday they would have to find a way to adapt to feed their families given the new restrictions.
Fruit vendor Dave Simon said he had no intention of moving unless Dr Rowley could tell him, “Who will mine me?
“I have to live. They (ministers) have millions, we have leftovers. What will we eat? When tomorrow comes we will see.”
Asked if he was worried about police seizing his goods if he is asked to move and does comply, Simon said, “They would have to lock me up. There’s food in jail but I have to live out here.”
Another vendor who didn’t want to be named said, “Today I’m selling slipper, tomorrow I will become an essential vendor. That’s my plan.”
President of the Charlotte Street Vendors Association Crystal Daniel said while she agrees with Rowley’s decision, more efforts must be focused on those who are most affected. And because she feels like enough isn’t being done, she isn’t prepared to temporarily close up shop.
Daniel who is also a retail street vendor said she will be selling produce from Tuesday.
“Staying home is not the issue. The issue is what the financial support is for the people. I have rent, my daughters and I cannot go homeless. We are worried and we can’t depend on these assistance programmes. I put my head on a block for the rental assistance grant and I haven't received it yet.”
Meanwhile, a doubles vendor on the Brian Lara Promenade said she knew the harsh restrictions were coming and was prepared to spend the next 21 days isolated at home.
Martinez, when asked about monitoring vending over the next three weeks, said, “The Prime Minister's objective is the objective of keeping people safe and keeping people away from people. And if, and if it means that we have to take action and ask the police to stop people congregating then so be it.”
He called on vendors to remember, “It is not only about how to find a way to become a retailer that is offering essential services. It's about a reduction in the movement of people. We have to basically take responsibility, and not just feel that we could take a chance and operate at a rate that we operated before. We have 21 days to make a difference.
"If we want to come out of this alive and well, we have to take some serious medicine. We have to restrict ourselves. And we have to operate in a manner that we're not accustomed to."
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