A major show down is in the making in the city between the Keith Mitchell government and vendors who sell daily on the sidewalk to make a living.

And one female vendor has already been arrested by the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) and charged with "Insulting Language" following an altercation between her and a female officer.
Last week, Communication and Works Minister Clarice Modeste-Curwen sent out a strong warning to street vendors that the police had been ordered to crack down on them with effect from last Monday.

As the police moved in, some of the vendors took protest action and were seen with a number of placards. "If they build place for we to go, we will go", said one of the female sidewalk vendors.

The vendor said that they were told months ago by the authorities that they could continue their business on the street until the second phase of the St. George's Market Square was completed.

However, she said that with little or no notice, they were ordered to leave their selling spots with immediate effect with no alternative location being offered to them. GRENADA TODAY witnessed a small number of Street Vendors assembled close to Farmers & Garden Centre on Halifax Street from early Monday armed with placards and voicing their disgust with government.

These vendors mainly sell clothing, perfumes, CD's, DVD's, pastries, and hand-made products like beads and necklaces. Vice President of the St George's Vendors Association, "Jiggaman" said that he is in agreement with the action taken by his colleagues.

"I agree with the people who are protesting, because there is no way that you can tell the people that they can't pay their mortgage, utilities (and) that's what they (government) do," he remarked. Jiggaman pointed out that the main reason why the vendors were picketing is because the Mitchell government took it upon itself without meeting with the affected persons to put an end to vending on the sidewalk.

He noted that the vendors got permission from the business operators from Niki's Shoe Shop to the ATM machine close to Farm and Garden Centre and from KFC to Melville Street to use the area until the second phase of the Market Square project was completed.

He observed that only half of that facility is completed which is the section that accommodate persons who sell products like spices, fruits and vegetables. "Jiggaman" said that some of the vendors selling the food items did not go into the area allocated for them in the Market and the reason given by government for moving against all street vendors is due to the action of these people.

He insisted that if Government wants to rid of vending on the streets of the city then they must fulfill the promises made and to fix the market to accommodate them. The executive officer urged government for a legitimate meeting with vendors to resolve the issue and to locate a place right now for the vendors to continue with their business.

"If the Chinese can come here and build a big Stadium here in one year.... (why) can't we build a small market in five", he asked. Speaking to reporters last week, Minister Modeste-Curwen said that government realizes the issue is a bread and butter one for the street vendors but order must be kept on the streets of St George's.
She acknowledged that at times government would need to make and take unpopular decisions.

The arrested vendor, Dale Lewis of Corinth, St David's, told Grenada Today that she was attending to her business as usual on Monday when she was approached by the officer who told her that she cannot vend on Hillsborough Street.

She said that there was a verbal exchange between herself and the officer and as far as she was concerned the matter was put to rest.
However, the officer returned and arrested her for using "Insulting Language". Lewis was placed on $500.00 bail.

The arrested woman who has been vending for more than five years said that she had no problem with relocating her business but insisted that government should find an alternative place for them to ply their trade.