The sale of market produce, such as vegetables, in the streets of the capital is of concern to Roseau Market Superintendent, Julius Carbon, who described the matter as a long standing issue.
To make matters worst, those who sell these produce are not holders of vendor’s license, Carbon noted.
“The sale of marketable goods on the sidewalks has been a long standing issue,” he stated during the launch of an anti litter initiative in Roseau on Thursday.
He said several efforts has been made to address the issue, however vendors have managed to evade authorities by “shifting from one point to another on various occassions.”
He stated the absence of vendors license by those who sell the produce on the streets is causing a problem.
“Many of the person you see along the city streets doing the vending are not holders of vendor’s licence and therefore it creates some difficulty,” he said.
Carbon said Roseau Market authorities are willing to work with several stakeholders to see the issue addressed once and for all.
“We are willing to do everything possible to bring some resolution to the problem,” he said.
On Thursday several stakeholders including the Roseau City Council, the Dominica Solid Waste Management Corporation (DSWMC), Discover Dominica Authority, the Environmental Health Department, the Roseau Market Authority and the Dominica Police Force, launched the anti litter initiative from the city of Roseau.
I see no problem in moving these people frome the side walk if there is a law against it all you have to do is enforce the law.
Mr. Julius Carbon, market Superintendant, had these things to share with the public:1. “shifting from one part to another on various occasions”. 2. “Many of … you see along the streets doing vending are not holders of vendors licence and therefore it creates some difficulty”.
I have never heard a more STUPID statement!! Indeed, it is a most serious indictment on all those responsible for maintaining law and order and cleanliness in the city of Roseau.
The solution is simple:Apply the law: the Ministry of Health has a data base of all those registered as vendors so an easy check can be done and secondly, get the POLICE to get them off the street corners. What is so DIFFICULT about that??
Stop “playing smart with chipidness”. This is so laughable! DAMN!!
One worrying aspect about the Saturday morning market is the amount of vendors, mainly Haitians, who are now using the section meant for walking, to sell. Thereby causing unnecessary and unwelcome congestion, and health hazards
Are licences not required?
nice thing
I don’t think we want a second Guadeloupe in Dominica. Guadeloupe regret the mess that they have on there hands. Haitians are all over the streets selling stuff. give them an inch they will take more than a mile. Even cook food they selling on road. Thank God for our EHO officers who will not tolerate that on sweet DA.I went to Guadeloupe and did not like what I saw. No chance to enter a store undisturbed. Feel sorry today and pay for it tomorrow.
nice
I’m ambivalent about this issue.
On one hand, I understand the issue of the vendors clogging up the side-walks etc…on the other hand, I buy from these vendors because many times, they have items that the supermarkets don’t have, and let’s face it, a large number of us shoppers are female. A large number of us female shoppers don’t have access to vehicles to transport us to and from the Roseau Market right on the other side of town to buy our vegetables etc. If we’re loaded down with shopping bags, do you REALLY think we’re going to walk ALL that way from Astaphans, Shillingfords, Whitchurch with heavy shopping bags just to pick up some seasoning when there is a vendor right there outside the supermarket selling it? And please don’t tell us about Savalot. Because, given the economy as it is, not every-one can afford Savalot prices on produce.
What about the Roseau Town Council hiring a few street patrol officers so they can hand out tickets to these vendors who insist on breaking the law? They need to be fined and then taken off the streets. That is why we have a Roseau Market – that is where vendors should be selling their fruits and vegetables. No ifs ands or buts….
Simple. Confiscate produce sold without a license. That will get their attention!
they making gyad to earn a dollar an u trying to gain off their efforts. stupes. and after all those years. stupes.
We so often hear the drumbeat about Farmers, and agriculture; yet to those who struggle to sell their produce on the side walks they are subjected to criticisms, and outright harassment.
I do not believe any farmer should need a licence to sell their agricultural produce; while the better off people are afforded the opportunity to import commodities duty free. If Julius Dose not want the venders to occupy the sidewalks, intelligence should dictate he should provide a place; find some open land somewhere where these people could practice their trade.
In Toronto Canada it is not unusual to find a food market selling everything produced in Dominica, on one’s way inside to buy Salt fish, and even cooking oil, we walk past the banana, coconut, plantains, yams of different species, not forgetting the tanya, and dasheen; those are on the sidewalk, so one chooses what they wish to purchase, picks it up and take it into the store, where it is paid for.
And by the way, nobody steals it from the sidewalk though all the produce are left unattended!
In Los Angeles, when we here people speak of farmers Market, if one go on Chrenshaw in Torrance, they will discover hundreds of people with vegetables, grown even in the backyard on a open piece of land on the side of the street selling their vegetables.
Right this moment there is an open bit of land on Chrenshaw, and Slauson in Los Angeles where the same activity can be found; I would suggest if government, or Julius does not want these people to sell on the sidewalks all he have to do is find an open spot, and designate that spot to the Farmers.
There was a time when the government provided an Market place for such purpose, there was a food market, and a fish market too.
Since we like to fashion after others, perhaps we should take a look at Antigua,, where they have a market for agricultural produce, separate from a meat, and fish market, I saw the same in Barbados. Need license to sell what?
Give them a building where they could occupy space, and pay a fee for doing so in order to cover maintenance expense, that I would agree to,but just because someone have a few heads cabbage, and carrots, or what have you selling should not mean taxes should be levied on these people in the guise of licence’s to sell!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
From some of the comments here, some seem to think we have a thing against vendors and want to stop them feeding their families. Roseau is a small cramped space with virtually no sidewalks the vendors make the place look really untidy and difficult to walk safely as you always end up in the road. If there are suitable locations in town where 1 or 2 stalls could be given licences without inconveniencing anyone, then fine. For all others, we have a dedicated market area thats where they should be whats so hard about that. No one is saying the ‘illegal’ vendors should be banned, we are saying they should work out of the market and join the other licenced vendors who are also working hard to make a living and feed their families.
Whilst on the subject, why can’t the market be reorganised to take all variety of vendors, e.g. clothing, cd’s, herbs and spices, touristy stuff etc. Its a very large area that can be built on, a lot of the time most of the space/lots are not being used. Why not build on the ‘new’ market area and move the vendors from the ‘old’ market and relocate them there. At least the tourists who do not want to go on tours could see more of Roseau on the walk to the ‘new’ market area. The ‘old’ market area should then be transformed into a lovely green, calming, area with seating, beautiful flowers, a fresh water drinking fountain, with plaques informing visitors and locals of its history. We could do a lot better with Roseau.
It’s a very good idea to solve this problem, but just open the market everyday to let them make a living. Please don’t shut them out.
it seem to me that we tend to disregard the area where we should concentrate the most “civics with our young ones at school” but when there is no civics taught at schools where we shape the minds of the young when one gets to adult stage we then remember Masa and start crying over the problem, our young ones should not only be remembered just for voting but to grow up as decent citizens of a country that has something to offer to all.
The rules and regulations are on the books, places have been identified for vending including an underutilized Roseau market. So why the hell the concerned authorities are not enforcing the law? Stop blaming the people vending blame those charged to see to it that laws are enforced. The fact is there are too many politicians who prevent public officers from enforcing the laws because they are afraid that it will cost them votes. Notice where they are vending outside the businesses of known politicians our supporters of the current administration.
Time to consider whether in the long run we may not be better off thinking of a new location for the capital city where we can plan properly and start from scratch. Roseau is an embarassment. Poor roads poor drainage poor sanitation. Too many residents with no basic sanitation system. Too many derelict structures. broken down or absent traffic signs. too many parros. too expensive for business. no parking facilities. too many electrical wires overhead. Uneven or no side walks. too many bus stands (one for every village) poorly kept residential homes next to expensive commercial properties. a drive through and drive in to fast foods outlet along one of the busiest streets.
ROSEAU IS A MESS. IS IT TIME TO THINK FOWARD OR STAY BACK. THE MESS CAN ONLY GER MESSIER
Really, so is the issue Litter or no Vending License? These are two different issues. Obviously Julius hasn’t been outside the country much to witness that it is vendors that make cities the vibrant urban centers they are. Farmers Markets, flower markets and art markets are what make cities attractive to tourists. Typically Farmer’s Markets are managed by a Co-Op which charges a nominal fee, but have advertisement as a benefit. Most cities have very nominal vending fees or none at all, because drawing tourists to its cities also draws them into the local shops and restaurants and it is a win for everyone. Charging Vending license for farmer’s type markets only hurts locals and the shops that depend on drawing tourists. Litter on the other hand is a matter all should aim to fix.
typical Haitian probleme.pour people with no respect for laws.always blame there unlawfulness on poverty.and that’s all over the world.that nation knows how to turn a nice place into a ghetto.Dominicans prepare yourselves to fight woodants
Sorry, I mean who is going to be held responsible for the persons injuries. Is it he government or the vender?
They could sell on the side walk, but the food and vegetables should be on a table, and not on boxes on the ground or floor, where they pick up all germs and dust. In New Your City , venders sell on the side walk, but the food are on tables and they have their permits tied around their necks.
I don’t mind, they on the side walk, but there have to be laws and orders. Roseau, already so congested, it someone falls while weaving among food and venders, who is going to be held reliable.
Street markets make the town a more vibrant and interesting place – as they do in towns and cities all over the world. And it’s good competition, especially as the Roseau Market isn’t a market at all – it’s a cartel where stall holders set fixed prices for produce and never compete with each other.
As for the comments about Haitians – homophobia is not an attractive trait. If other countries spoke of Dominican immigrants and migrant workers this way I’m sure you’d find it very offensive.
Try to be Christian and charitable in action, not just in talk.
If no one is bying the produce, then the sellers wouldn’t bother. Obviously there are buyers, and the only stakeholders that really count are the buyers and sellers. Why is the government so intent on controlling everyone and making people have licenses for selling produce? Even in a police state like Florida, where even children can’t sell lemonade without a vendor’s license, it is completely legal to sell produce on the side of the road without a license. However, if the seller is in the roadway, or blocking the sidewalk or littering, those are different issues, and different laws should apply. Eliminate the vendor’s license, but enforce laws on right of way and littering. If rich people were selling produce on the side of the road, it’s doubtful that the government would be harassing them.
no law no constitution can stop them.monkey see monkey do
If popo walking the streets doing nothing…enforce the LAW, give some popo work to do, first they give a written warning, indicating the fees in place for such crime, and second time offender should be charged. This should only be done after a law is in place and a market/flea market/location is made available to the vendors…we should never take food from peoples plate…BUT IN HONESTY..SIDEWALKS ARE FOR WALKING…….AS MUCH AS ALL SHALL EAT….WE NEED OUR SIDE WALK BACK
let me say this, Roseau donot even have a decent sidewalk, okay, so when people vend all over it is causing unnecessary congestion and adding to the already untidiness of the so called town.
added to that, is the paroes, stray dogs, dog poop, heaps of rubbish….its just so…sad.
Here’s an initiative to encourage the population on a whole to gravitate towards the New Market Building on a daily basis. Allow the vendors to pay a monthly fee of $50 for the upkeep and maintenance of the market environment. Those who don’t want to pay will just have to agree to pay a daily fee of $10 for every day that they are there. Off course there will always be some with negative comments but there’s sufficient space in that market to keep it running Monday to Saturday and perhaps make and exception for it to be closed before 5pm for the cleaners to tidy it up for net day. What more can I say… I only tend to buy spice on the roadside?
These vendors are like squatters on your land, and take over.
Let the street and side walk be for people to walk and let themarket be ffor. Produced
100% agreed
I say ” Leave the vendors Alone!!!”.Times are too hard to be harassing people.
Well we stop buying the produce off the street, things will change. No sale no money then they will have to comply.
Yet again, a rather simple problem to fix which becomes a long standing issue. Why? Because laws can’t be enforced uniformly, there is always a pick and choose/political reason for doing or not doing something. Roseau is too small not to be darn near perfectly managed. There is no excuse, don’t blame the vendors, blame the city planners! This shouldn’t be a news piece, this is everyday work that they should have solved ages ago!
I understand that the vendors whether they be Dominican, Haitian, or little green men from mars need to make a living. Could not then the market place be used all the week round instead of just one or two days a week. I don’t know how much a licence cost but perhaps it could be lowered a bit if the vendors use the market place during the week days.
As far as I see the market open all week. There are always some vendors there with a stall. Maybe the street vendors don’t want to pay for a stall or a licence because even on saturday plenty of them selling right next to the market. They even so bold they blocking parking spaces and outside shops that have to pay tax . They even don’t have scale so how they know they selling you a pound of tomatoes when they have no scale and who checking the quality of produce or where it come from?. That is rubbish. Dominica is just a vaikivai country.
Why not enforce the laws that already exist. You mean to tell me roseau so large that when some of the illegal vendors are remove they move to a new location and cannot be stopped. Laughable. The evade authority by shifting to new location. It takes less than 20 minutes to walk once around town by foot. Now cops have chinese bikes they can do in 5 min. It takes the vedors a couple hrs to load all thier stuff move to location unload and setup. I aint buying that excuse.
We just need to start enforcing the laws on the books. I bet you when the first 5 illegal vendors get hefty fines your problem with illegal vending and littering will be solved. Less Talk and more action.
HAITIANS!!!! no rule, no law, no respect for authority. If these were Dominican women and men doing that they would have long been charged, like the women from Layou with the titiri. But Haitians are all over, outside Courts, Whitchurch, all where you turn they’re in your face, no garden but selling produce!
Sorry but they are just following what they met.
Both Dominicans and Haitians are doing it.
Don’t blame one and leave out the other.
If you are saying, “no rule, no law, no respect for authority,” then the Dominicans that cause of it.
The other persons are just followers of we the Dominicans of what they met us doing.
As the saying goes, when you are in Rome, you do as the romans do!
Why this constant of blaming the Haitians. Are they not of the same ethnicity as us? What if the shoe was on the other foot? Would we like to be treated the way they are being treated right now. They are hard working people and will try their hands to anything to make ends meet. Consider what happened to them in their country. We should thank our Almighty God for preserving us from such disaster.
Concerns, concerns, concerns, why is it everyone in authority is concerned about poor people trying to earn an honest living, when u fellas make your decision do u all consider the fact that these people have absolutely no other means, why don’t u all focus on improving these people lives instead of oppressing dem all the time, geez man that negro race boy!
This is like most everything else. No prosecution for littering, no prosecutuon for parking on pavements, trucks with bald tyres and faulty or no lights terrorising the roads with impunity, no prosecution for driving under the influence, no prosecution for using the streets as a toilet.
I know we want to be kind to our people but why then have regulations in the first place. Soft doctors make stinking wounds. Time to use the stick and have some prosecutions because if we don’t do that we will still be talking about this for the next 100 years. Nobody says people should not make a living but please do so in an organised and proper way. So long we are talking about next level it has become an embarrassing slogan, meaningless!
Wow…who declaired war on the people who are functioning and keeping the Utter Rubish heap of Roseau alive? Clean up the town rather than put working people out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charge them I say! Theses people fail to go in the market and sell they produce instead they sit outside courts.witchchurch. all over the dam place having the city looking like a bush town or forest.clean up the city we have tourist for god sake coming to the city.it a shame!
The persons selling are just human beings and just as important as the tourist.
God is NOT ashamed of his children no matter colour or nationality
Well if God is your father you must be bleesed Jesus. Welcome back!
Did I say that they are not human? Did I say that god was ashamed of them? Why do u people open ur mouths and talk ? Are u an idiot? U want them to sell their produce all over the city when there is a market place? Its beter u are think of a fool than open ur mouth and talk foolishnis. U just graduated and got a diploma in assmograth
Why cant they follow rules and regulations, when ofcourse they are in place?
However, they should use the Roseau Market instead of the sidewalks in the already dirty city. All shall eat but all should do the right thing to and obey the law. They will still sell if they sell at the market. They may even sell more too.
Sad to say but the fact that people vend without a vendor’s license probably encourages the crime of praedial larceny. Farmers plant, others harvest and sell.
“The sale of market produce, such as vegetables, in the streets” … Carbon described the matter as a long standing issue. … during the launch of an anti litter initiative…
What is the difficulty? “…the absence of vendors license(s) by those who sell the produce on the streets is causing a problem”. What is the problem? “We are willing to do everything possible to bring some resolution to the problem,” Just tell us what the problem is, will you?
So the ones without licenses are littering?
Are there laws to govern that issue? If there are ENFORCE them.
That is one of our biggesg problems. We have laws on the books and they are NEVER ENFORCED.
This is how you start marking off all the no vending areas a penalty of ec 1000.oo forthwith then if they don’t comply you take them to court.and then the courts will double the fine and then every one will head to the MARKET. introduce police warden walk the streets and give the vendors ticket for the no vending areas on the spot but in saying all this i want to be fear make sure that the market is ready clean ,toilets water are in place so that the vendors can ply there trades.
honestly this is one of the things that turns me off when i come to dominca the side walks are all narrow and yet they are all block with boxes trays buckets the list goes on it is time that something be done about this i have no problem with the people selling on there transports but on the road is a mess i really would like to see a change on my visit to dominca later this year hope someone in position see the note god bless ALL VEGETABLES SHOULD BE AT THE MARKET MARKET ONLY.
I was visiting home not too long ago and I came across the same problem with the vendors and their wares on the pavement which is already so narrow that one has to look where they are placing their feet. There were two women on either side of each other, which meant that one had to step between these two people to go through. Why are they all gathered in one spot other than the market place provided for them? I too, would like to see a change when I visit again soon.
Great initiative. The laws of he land must be enforced for the health, safety and security of all citizens and visitors to our shores. I beg all vendors to please corporate in this worthy and long overdue endeavor. But Change Must Come and that will be sooner rather than later.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
how can someone with all those vegetables and mounted stall evade the wardens? these wardens are lazy people who wants to sit at their desk playing solitaire and shopping on ebay.
I you do regular patrols around town you will not miss these vendors
Lol I was thinking the same thing. You see the same vendors every day in the same spot with the exception of a minor few. So how can he use the word EVADE? Sounds like some spy espionage crap.