New mayor of Roseau, Irene John, wants street vending to be more organized in Roseau and is proposing a special location just for vendors.
This is part of an idea of making Roseau a more attractive and organized city.
Speaking on Thursday John said she wants to send a clear message to the many vendors in the capital that the City Council does not want to prevent them from making a living but Roseau needs to be more organized.
“Instead of having a piece of plastic here, there and everywhere, and all over the place, let us work together as a team and the council would be very happy if all the vendors put their heads together and say let’s just work with the council and let us make Roseau a more beautiful city than it is,” she said.
She pointed out that ‘careful thought’ is being given for a special location for vendors to “have them in an organized area and that would be like the vendors arcade.”
The discussion on organized vending is not new and authorities here say talks have been held for a special vending area, but this has not materialized.
who dont the RCC in concert with the govt of dominica look at the possibility of building a multi storeyed facility on River Bank, that would serve as a bus terminus below and above it could be the location for all street vendors with public toilet facilities. The vendors should also pay a small licence fee of say $20.00 per month for the use of this facility. Secondly, there should be a chg for the use of toilets, say $1.00. At the door,someone wd give you a small bar of soap,or an ampoule of liquid soap,toilet wipes for(the toilet seat)for use before & a pouch of tissues for use after. The fees charged would go towards the salary of the cleaner, who wd be responsible to ensure that the toilet area was always kept clean. This idea may sound crazy, but trust me, it works abroad. Just think about it 2 jobs have already been created with this idea. The food vendors cd be located on the top floor of the structure in the area between the existing market and the bridge, while the vendors who sell clothing and household (DRY) goods, cd be located on the top floor in the area between Pizza Palace and the Globe. That way u wd have two flea markets along River Bank. Traffic wd not be allowed to turn RIGHT into River Bank from the Roseau market or RIGHT into River Bank from the Globe into Roseau or RIGHT into river bank from Great George Street, making River Bank a PEDESTRIANISED WALKWAY ONLY. The only vehicles allowed should be buses who have to use the terminus for picking up and dropping off passengers, and emergency vehicles in the event of an emergency.OR ALTERNATIVELY, BUILD A COUPLE OF FLOORS OVER THE EXISTING ROSEAU MARKET, THAT WAY ALL THE VENDORS WD BE UNDER ONE ROOF. WE CD ALSO HAVE ONE FLOOR WITH ‘FOOD COURTS’ ONLY, LIKE U HAVE IN SHOPPING MALLS ABROAD, THAT WAY, THE PUBLIC HAVE A PLACE TO MEET UP, REST THEIR FEET, HAVE A SNACK AND USE TOILET FACILITIES BEFORE MAKING THEIR WAY HOME. THE FOOD COURTS CD REMAIN OPEN UNTIL LATE. THINK OF A MOONLIT NIGHT, MUSIC PLAYING, THE SMELL OF FRIED FISH, BAKES, CHICKEN ETC, AND FAMILIES GOING FOR A ‘STROLL’ – LIKE THE OLD DAYS – FANTASTIC IDEA. PLS PASS ON MY SUGGESTION TO MRS. JOHN. ITS WORTH THINKING ABOUT.
From a loyal Dominican living in the UK.
That’s a briliant idea Roseau is a total mess. If you have a major disaster in some areas where you have these vendors a lot of people will get hurt cause they are all over the place .Very unpleasant for tourist visiting shows we are not organised .All that money the govenment have wasting why don’t they build a mall for such .You don’t even have sidewalks in Roseau anymore .Been travelling all over and Roseau is the worse I’ve seen so far
The vendors are not the problem in Roseau actually they are a welcome addition to the capital city as a shopping area. The problem is garbage, vagrants, lack of sidewalks, lack of parking and derelict building! Focus on the real problems and do not blame those trying to make a living in a country with a significant high level of unemployment!
first things first”’ms mayor u shud go and clean dirty roseau befor u talk about vendors. the city stinks…Ever see hw the chinese put garbage on the corners wen we have a ship in port? well its the norm in roseau ok. At some point in the future the vendors shd relocate to some nice tourist friendly place and that would be great.. but its nt a reality at this point so mrs mayor lets nt put the cart befor the horse..start by cleaning up the city.. we might like for that…thanks..
My sister, do what you have to do. And I love what you say, politics too like to play in CHANGE. Time dose vendors start doing things in right perspective. Roseau shouldn’t be a dump as they want to have it. GO MAYOR IRENE GO. Maybe past Mayor was getting his kickback from some of those vendors. You are an independent woman. Make Roseau look like something.
Dominica need to start thinking about building Strip Malls; Note that I said strip malls..everyone would have his/her own joint making shopping much more attractive.
Example of strip mall can be seen http://www.summit-customcuts.com/stripmallbdbuilding2.html
http://www.boysterinsurance.com/services/business.htm
If all the vendors are register to sell in the market all the mayor need to do is to send them a letter informing them that she is planning on holding a meeting with them by such date.
There should be proper shelter for he people who sells under the scorching sun and their produce look dead my mid-day.
I congratulate the new Mayor for reviving the discussion on this issue.
However the reason why we do not have a vendors acade is all the fault of this administration. It is going on fifteen years since the Roseau Development Plan and Strategy report was prepared for the government of Dominica under a European Union financed project geared primarily at making Roseau a more attractive city for economic growth particularly tourism.
Two site have been identified for vendors acade and food court. The report which involved much stakeholders participation seats in the ministry of tourism, Planning and elsewhere of the govt. system.
This incompetent and catch a vote administration did nothing but talk about the project. the EDU have since pulled out the funding. Instead the administration and the Roseau City Council encouraged squatting along the Roseau River bank creating such an unsightly environment. Not even the long talked about Roseau River Prominard which is also a project in the said dev. plan can now be implemented largely because they,DLP fear losing the votes of these squatters. Now another labour mayor wants to talk about vendors acade because elections is near. I say just another catch a vote attempt. Labour must get out of the way if Roseau is to get the face lift it deserves. Change is a must and Team Dominica will bring that positive change
A very sick government.
Making of Haiti
Good job Ms. John. That was long overdue. I hope you’ll get the full support of the Roseau people especially the vendors. I wish you success on tough undertaking.
I love the vendors. It is just part of our culture. I like walking around town and just seeing everyone trying to make a living. However, yes, organization is required.
Madame Mayor if you can organize street vending and clean up the streets of vagrants you will have a great legacy……some solutions: you can declare short street as pedestrians only and relocate vendors there… that was done nicely in Barbados……what about the old ruins building that was proposed by the Min of Tourism…they have been talking about that for ages….The old and new market should be better organized to accommodate better vending..you can also work with owners of derelict properties to clear up their structures and organize the sites nicely for vending…we have so many eyesores in the city..all countries have dealt with street vending so we too must…a cleaner more organized City will bring more visitors and more buisness for everyone…..people should not feel they can just set up a stand anywhere to vend…it is true labour make more people poor so they have to find a way to catch a bread…besides its only the Chinese that can afford to rent building town…farmers have also joined the vending too because country people cannot afford to buy anything…this is a reflection of the serious economic times…but they must all be organized in one designated area…..
What about the plan to fix up the side walks and cover the drains and surface the roads….also what about plans to build a central bus terminal…all islands have such centralized facilities…labour has talked about such project for 15 years and never did anything…anyway UWP will take care of these things…Roseau is one of the most beautiful cities in the Caribbean..it is just a shame how it has been neglected under this government
Vendors seem to be the most organized thing in town. What about the Paros, beggers, open sewers in the gutters, broken sidewalks, no sidewalks, taxi drivers cursing each other in front of the tourists, dog poop everywhere? I think there are MANY more urgent issues with Roseau than trying to corral the vendors into onw area. The vendors are working well on their own to behave and be polite to the tourist traffic. Ms. Mayor, please fix the things that are burst before you attack the people that are keeping the town alive. Check the survey results of complaints in Roseau from the tourist traffic. I doubt that vendors are even in the top 10.
She pointed out that ‘careful thought’ is being given for a special location for vendors to “have them in an organized area and that would be like the vendors arcade.”–News Article
That would be one of the best ways–actually nothing else would be better. Vending activities in Roseau is probably my only displeasure there–to speak the truth.
First of all the plastics here and there display and the clumsy sitting of the vendor, before his or her products for sale, is a horrible eyesore for the city.
Secondly the streets of Roseau are too small to have so many vendors occupying the side-walk, while people park their vehicles on that same street–where do we, who are pedestrians, walk to do our business in the city–unless we are “swirling” through the moving vehicles?
In 2008 when I was in Roseau, I almost get squeezed between a parking vehicle and a moving, huge bus; I am sure that it was my guardian angel who protected me from that tragic fate.
If there is anything I wish to see better in Dominica is the parking of vehicles, and the sidewalk activities of vending in Roseau. And so I am praying!
It is outside of Roseau however have any thought given to the site of Public works is instead of the proposed hotel which will be way to small in a few years. It is large enough to accommodate with space lots of amenities have space for persons to walk and even build an upstairs and down stairs for future development.
Hope this plan comes to fruition. If possible, a convenient area where a shelter could be constructed which could shield them and their customers from the sun and rain.
The Government of Dominica bought the old Ruins building next to the old market for the purpose of building a vendors arcade. Notice was given to the occupant to vacate the building. Several years later, he is still there as if he is the owner of the building, we have no vendor arcade and there is more congestion in the capital city.
Roseau has a lot of problems in terms of lack of regeneration. The problems need to be solved but first a strategy has to be put into place and by doing so a SWOT Analysis has to be put forward (the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) has to be analyse in terms of development what is good and bad for Roseau and how the problem is going to be solved. Firstly yes it is a major problem that the vendors are occupying the sidewalks but what solution is being put in place to accommodate them. Are they going to provide an area where they can sell their goods? I have heard a lot of promises from the mayor but the basic things such as rubbish on the sidewalks, corners, the dirty smelly drains especially by the old Market where the tourists comes in, before there were people cleaning the drains why has that stop? There is one thing that is not clear in Dominica that you have to work in partnership to achieve an excellent outcome so the Mayor has to put her proposal together, then work in partnership with the planning department, environment department, tourism department etc and don’t think that working on her own she will achieve anything. So please team work is a most that includes us togetherness. PLEASE
its very good idea. Roseau really needs proper organization and management. There is so much can be done for..to make Roseau more attractive, friendlier and pleasant not only for tourists but for habitants…
we live in 21st century and there are so much good ideas how to make town more human, more liveable…but please dont make decision based on opinion of so called stakeholders…engage entire population of Dominica….open online forum and advertise it across the island. Post some proposals online and ask people vote and comment. People will decide what is better for this island…not so called stakeholder. Engage tourists..ask them what they hate about Roseau, engage expats living here…everybody has something to say…its called democracy…prove to everybody that people can decide not only a small group of so called elite…
wonderful it was about time they think of something like that
I agree very smart move. Like a flea market. Should be sheltered though
Good idea, but it needs to be a big enough area to accommodate all the vendors and within easy access or walking distance from the bay front. Don’t forget all those tourists who just like to get off the ships to browse around the vendors stalls.
Good idea, sidewalks should be for pedestrians to walk.
I think this is a very good idea. Please look at Barbados they control the vendors they are not scattered all over the place, it appears more organised, please do not think negative let us work together to create a new DA.
We welcome such a move
Yes its a good move .too much nsatyniss in a city.the venders blocking all the side walks and have the city looking like a shanty town.they should be place somewhere else a designated area for themself .clean up that mess
Brilliant idea! Everyone agrees that we need some kind of organization and coordination with the vending sector in the city.
They may want to consider a plan for a two story parking deck constructed across the river. Parked vehicles shall pay a metered fee upon exiting, thereby, creating a few jobs while the structure pays for itself.
Tax
Whatever you decide to do, people will always complain. Period.
The mayor is interested in beautifying the city, as I am sure is part of her title and what is some of the response: Complains!
Roseau has fallen way back over the years and we just allow it to. The only decent looking part of Roseau is the Dame Eugenia Charles Boulevard, in my opinion.
What needs a large part of our attention are all the broken, once-used-be-a- sidewalk, sidewalks.
The city needs to do something about the broken sidewalks in Roseau Dominica. We need continuous, even sidewalks where possible and designated parking area, like a few parking garages to help reduce heavy congestion during busy times of day.
It would also be lovely, to install a few more trash receptacles for use. Our city should also help address our issue with vagrancy and homeless animals.
Portsmouth is the Dominica’s loveliest city and Roseau is becoming, if not already, a place where no one wants to be, unless absolutely necessary.
So I personally welcome initiates to help beautify my city.
Portsmouth is a dump.
All your points about roseau are true, but you dilute it all when you call Portsmouth lovely.
Honestly, Yvor was right when he called Portsmouth a ghetto.
Roseau is worst than portsmoth.take a walk by courts ACS and see the nastiniss the venders are doing there.they have pails of fish selling and cow meat goat meat by the side of the road u canot walk on the side walk . Those people have all kia groundd food packup on the side walk.i mean after rallll!! This is blaytant natinis.i know everybody want to make a dollar but my god go to the market and sell all u produce that is why they put the market there.am calling on the athorities to make these people move to the market please .we cannot allow visitors to come to our island and see that nastinis.organis the place for god sake man!
Portsmouth is not a ghetto. it is 1 of the most diverse places I have ever seen , . people are just great , . Hard drugs have caused major hardship here as every where else . I am from Canada but spent a lot of time in Portsmouth and am looking forward to being there again . the people there are some of the nicest and most caring I have ever met . Ghetto—no—
Ok Patcho, If Portsmouth is not Dominica’s loveiest city, what is?
These vendors need to realize that if they do not present a neat and cohesive image, sales will become nightmarish.
If Dominica is to compete on the regional scene, we need to step up our image and the vendors contribute to the overall image of Roseau.
Beach umbrellas set up along sidewalks and steps makes it difficult for pedestrians to traverse effortlessly throughout the city.
I hope the vendors are very objective about this vision and cooperate with the development/improvement efforts of the City Council.
yes the vending stalls need to be improved but all round the world people vend on street corners. let the vendors make their living in peace nah.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
All u say Cecile not working look it now change is a must madam mayor go for it
Excellent idea Hon. Mayor but we are tired of this continual lip-service mentality so let’s see action by the RCC. Currently Roseau can be described as one big dump.
nothing will be done, just more parle, parle, talk talk that’s all we ever get. no action, no implementation.
man those vendors occuping all the dam sidewalk,u have to walk in the road.that new mayor should first have a solution to the problem because she come and talk about something we all know about.something about that woman i cant understand
The solution starts with you! Give the mayor a call with your suggestion for improvement.
It`s high time our Mayor put things in order, so people could walk freely on the side walk in the town. Make changes in the town, yes.
about time. this is the capital of a nation, its time that home serious thought be given into getting it more organized. Some people may not like it but that to bad.have one central location, properly thought out and designed to have the vendors.we don’t like change in Dominica but the way the town looks need to change if we want to me a more attractive tourism market.
harassment u call that harassment? be honest roseau needs a new look inside out. the sidewalks are from another time, dog poop all over the place , garbage in every corner…its just disgusting i hate walking around town but alas i have no choice
New Mayor, more harassment for the vendors.
u need 2 shot the hell up.
Very smart move, I do hope all cooperates