City Council distances itself from dismantling of vendor stalls

Police dismantling stall outside CITP venue on October 23

City Clerk, Angus Benjamin, has reiterated the mayor’s position that the Roseau City Council was by no means a part of the dismantling of vendors stalls outside of the 10th annual Lime Creole in the park event.

On October 23, vendors who had set up stalls outside the PSU building, had their structures removed by members of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force. The police said vending in the area was a threat to the proper management and control of traffic during the event.

“Council wants to make it categorically clear that council was not instrumental nor a participant in the removal and demolition of the stalls of the vendors on Windsor Lane during Creole in the Park and ultimately disassociates itself with the action of the police,” Benjamin said.

The dismantling of stalls by the police outraged vendors who said they had already paid the city council for vending at the location.

Mayor of Roseau, Cecil Joseph, said that the vendors were not reimbursed but their accounts were debited for vending outside the venue of the World Creole Music Festival.

He said permission was granted to the vendors to sell along Independence Street during the three-night event.

Joseph made a plea to the police force and organisers of the various events to include the city council in the planning and execution of events within the parameters of the city.

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30 Comments

  1. Malgraysa
    November 12, 2012

    Looks like the city council distancing itself from everything. Clearly the mayor is out of his depth saying Roseau is”a very big ciry” when the whole of Dominica is no more than a medium town in the U.S.A. or U.K. No offence but I think the job is beyond him.

  2. Durand
    November 12, 2012

    What I would like to know, why is it that the police in Dominica,always wearing army camouflage outfits, whoever give them the idea that they must use army uniforms when they are not soldiers, this is so sick, for goodness sakes they are police officers and should be wearing the police uniforms

    No wonder when some man going to commit their crime, they use that same outfit to do so

    • officer
      November 13, 2012

      Durand another cop hater.

      when the criminal is in your back yard don’t call the cops. well when you see us wearing the camouflage. All you have to do is come and remove it. and you will know what time it is. The public have lost respect for police in Dominica. Civilians just want to infiltrate into the police force and tell police how to do there work. Times need to turn around when you stop a police vehicle and they come out and put a fatigue on you. that time need to come back. The police force is compromised to much for civilians. So Mr. Durand when you see me wearing my Camouflage, Come and undress me in a reward for two broken hands and charges read to you before a magistrate the next day.

    • "O" STRESS"
      November 13, 2012

      I hope you are not jelous of the police? and I hope you are not the person i know cause when you used to love me you said is because of the uniform. I still love you.smfh.

  3. Ericx
    November 12, 2012

    VENDORS are a VITAL part of ALL these festivals. Especially Creole in the Park. Ever tried to get a drink at one of the ‘2’ proprietory bars at CITP?? be prepared to sweat, push and scream. Not so when Vendors are welcome.

  4. watch dog
    November 11, 2012

    This is where the energy of the cops are going, into dismantling of poor people that are trying to earn a living. The chief of police besides police experience cannot produce any document stating that he has a degree in something but he is incharge of a deopartment where critical decisions are needed to be made. His deputy is way ahead of him. Politics again

    • "O" STRESS"
      November 13, 2012

      utter rubbish! what`s your point?

  5. John Paul
    November 11, 2012

    That was a real professional Police Force in Action .Not my words Mr. Skeritts.You give houses to People who have none on the premise that they will vote for You but You harass those who are struggling to help themselves and making every effort to be law abiding .
    Notice there was no comment from the Political ASSPHALT!

  6. ARE U FOR REAL
    November 11, 2012

    Mr. Cecil Joseph should not have given out permits for places that were not designated for vendors, we dominicans are tired of disrespecting the police force of this country. We are always ready to bring them down but they are the same ones we turn to we need help. The vendors should be reimbursed what is talking about debiting their account? are you a bank now. When Mr. Josephn issues a statement that the council had nothing to do with the dismantling, does he think that it holds him blamesless? You sir were wrong from the onset. If you want your office to be respected, give the police force the respect they deserve.

  7. Rastar-Marn
    November 11, 2012

    but wait nuh to them vendors whom might by chance read dis,,,

    allyou doh know dem man dem dat come take down dem stands den,,,

    Take an action in high court against dem, doh go to no magistrate court you know “high Court” to go,,, sue dem police dem all of dem in the picture Marn see dere, in deir individual capacity and make dem pay “treble damages” and all the potential earning allyou estimated allyou would have earned over the season plus punitive damages:exemplary damages are damages intended to reform or deter the defendant and others from engaging in conduct similar to that which formed the basis of the lawsuit,,,

    I sure next time when somebody come tell dem to mess wiff allyou dey will tink twice,,,

    • "O" STRESS"
      November 13, 2012

      Pray for this one. I know better just returned from D/ca and trust me we are in serious trouble with our own people. Pray, pray, pray for our people.

  8. vampire
    November 10, 2012

    Thinker if you really believe is toy soldiers go and play ner and you will tell me the result.

  9. Anonymous
    November 10, 2012

    I will say one more time welcome to the next level

  10. Really?
    November 10, 2012

    The City Council must be included in all Event planning etc… in the city parameters. in 2012 the Mayor has to publicly ask that the city be included in event planning etc….

    What a shame… This should have been the norm. Council plans a major role in city planning.

    Dominica, alas. To all educated and experienced Dominicans living abroad, our need you. Don’t you guys see Dominica need you. Isn’t it obvious? DOn’t only return to party, come to move our Dominica forward.

  11. dom
    November 10, 2012

    Wow, thats Dominica thought that was africa or some communist state… oh welll

  12. Daniel Doway
    November 10, 2012

    Poor Cecil since last November he has been given the 3rd dgree although he paid for the drinks. Look like he is on his way out, no support from friends and partiets. POOP CECIL>

  13. vert kaka
    November 10, 2012

    cecil needs to be sent home dont know why this man is still around he doesnt do nothing good for the state except …. the city the town is dirty and stinks its gut wrenching on hot days full of stray dogs and dog he needs to clean up the city have the fire and city council flush the town drains at least twice a month these guys are only there to get rich they do nothing good only take drastic quick fix actions when they are exposed and ask to account

  14. jean t savanne
    November 10, 2012

    is cecil…is the police ..is skerrit..is themself.mem bet mem pwell papa!!

  15. D/can to de bone(for
    November 10, 2012

    What is the barking about by the mayor and his staff..In fact the mayor should resign for that scandal.

    I liked how the police dealt with the matter and stand their ground. No one is above the law.
    It was was great that phone calls by the mayor, party colours could not overturn the police decision.

    We are hosting an international event the Police an emergencies has to have contentegy plans in place incase of any incident.

    Congrats to our policeofficers for gooding a good job

    • "O" STRESS"
      November 13, 2012

      Thats what i am talking about agree 10000% we have smart thinking Dominicans so there is hope for the rest.

  16. En Ba La
    November 9, 2012

    Mayor you are just asleep at the wheel aren’t you?

    How can major events of this kind not be in the city’s planning or on their calendar of events in which the city communicate with the police?

    The police running the city for you.

    Events organized in the city Mayor you are just not concerned as to the safety or execution of these. Events?

    I would want to think that there would be meetings with the parties concerned including the police so everyone is on the same page. Mayor in business there is what is called diminishing returns. I truly do not know what you had before but seems like this is where you are at today

    Again MAKE THE RULES AS WE GO ALONG.

  17. Hilroy Alfred J.r
    November 9, 2012

    the mayor can choose to repudiate the allegations as long as he wishes but he too has a part to play. As the Mayor of the city one should be aware of things taking place in the vicinity of your jurisdiction. We all belong to a community meaning that we are unified on common grounds so we exist together in a particular place (the city). Within a community a leader is put in place elected by the people in certain instances to ensure that common grounds are not breached. Though it’s a shame that the Mayor has to be running away from what has transpired, the people of Roseau need to examine the competence of their Mayor. Incompetence is seen by firstly issuing license under blurred conditions, it’s seen again by the Mayor being unaware of certain protocol, it is seen yet again by the lack of respect given to the mayor and his position by not informing him of proceedings withing his town and most importantly incompetence is displayed by the Mayor not being able to reach that common ground with authorities to protect the interest of his people. So the issue is not that he is running but what is it he didn’t do and should be doing that’s not being done, why the end result is he not facing the people and the issue. Also Give people back their money.

  18. thinker
    November 9, 2012

    Toy soldiers dismantling vendors stalls more like.

    • Trolol
      November 9, 2012

      Hmm, Yet still the toys still have more authority than you. What those that make you some no brand action figure? :wink:

  19. ideal
    November 9, 2012

    but are the going to get reimbursed or you guys keeping the money..this must be a new scam

  20. Stryka
    November 9, 2012

    its clear th mayor of the city should have his /her inputs when it have activities in town like it or not

  21. Shameless
    November 9, 2012

    Cecil need to quit ………! He think’s he is a BIGBOETIA and even want to control the CDPF now. Mr. Cecil need to understand that we have the CDPF and not RPF (Roseau Police Force) under the control of the city.

    Law and order MUST be maintained at all cost and I applaud the police for doing their job. Cecil should not have given permits to the vendors knowing full well the police operational plans excluded these areas from being used as vending space.

    Assertive, NOT Agressive!

    • reage
      November 10, 2012

      nonesense

    • D/a guy in antigua
      November 10, 2012

      Thats why i tould you all fron the day i saw this news on line that this guy cecil will move fast to make it look like he is are good man and the police at the bad ones. thats just how i see the PM runing Dominica its all about self love and how maney people thay can have saying thay are the nice ones and not the people that are doing the right things and thay all know wel how things are to be done in Dominica but with all that i must say i love all my Dominican people one love to D/a thank GOD for all what we have i must say befor that D.L.P. AND UPP thing started in Dominica we had much more love and more fun please let work had to get that back

    • November 11, 2012

      dont be so, what if the organizers did not notify council of their intentions. Activity organized months in advance and you informing council of no vending on friday, dismantling of stalls monday. Cecil correct, council is custodian of city and any activity being held council should have input in decisions. On the other hand, CDPF wanted to use one of the main entrance ways into the park as an emergency exit and the new link road near bath estate was being used by the ambulances.

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