Coconut water vendors Paul and Ismay Swinath were last week evicted from the spot at Puluch Junction, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, where they have been plying their trade for over two decades, although they had documented permission.
The Swinaths said that they were moved by Works Ministry officials because a resident, identified only as “Country Man,” wanted their spot to park his car. Ismay on Tuesday told this newspaper that the man “said that he know somebody at the ministry and he tell me he gon get me moved.” Stabroek News made several attempts to contact Works Minister Robeson Benn for comment but was unsuccessful. Attempts to contact the resident were also not successful.
The couple of Better Hope, said that they have been selling at the area close to 26 years. Ismay added that since the resident, who lives opposite their vending spot, acquired a car about five years ago, he has been threatening to have them removed because he wanted a parking spot.
She said that this prompted her to get the relevant documentation that made it legal for her and her husband to sell at the spot.
On Tuesday, Ismay showed this newspaper a letter from the Better Hope/ LBI Neighbourhood Democratic Council, dated March 22 of this year, stating that permission was granted to the Swinaths “to sell water coconuts at the Better Hope Public Road (Puluch Junction) using a movable cart and also cleaning the surroundings daily.” Ismay also had a licence which permitted them to “sell as a huckster” until the end of this year.
However, last Tuesday, at 10am, Ismay said that police as well as Ministry of Works‘ officials descended upon her while she was conducting business and told her she could not sell there. She said that she tried to tell the officers that she had permission but “they said that them ain’t concern ‘bout the NDC, this is government reserve and that I must go and sell up the line top they tell me.” The couple has since complied with the Ministry of Works official and moved their cart to a patch of green just at the junction of the Vryheid’s Lust/ Better Hope Access Road— an area that they do not have permission to operate from.
A frustrated Ismay on Tuesday admitted that they had not visited the NDC to take up the issue but said that she will now.
Meanwhile, the owner of Puluch Kissoon’s Beer Garden, located at the Junction where the Swinaths’ operated, said that he disapproved of what happened to them. “Is pure enviousness,” he said, while supporting the claim that the resident wanted the spot to park his car.
Kissoon added that he had no problem with the couple, noting that they always cleaned the area when they were leaving with their cart for the day. Kissoon said that there is a food vendor who comes at the same spot on the weekends and he leaves the place dirty but no one has taken any action against him. “What goes for one should go for all,” he added, reiterating his displeasure with the treatment of the Swinaths.
