Row over customer leads to assault charge for vendor

A New Vendors Mall stallholder appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore yesterday charged with assaulting a fellow vendor over taking away her customer.

Bibi Grant, 50, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mark Marvel on February 12 at New Vendors Mall, Water Street, Georgetown.

Grant told the court that on the day in question, a customer went to her stall to purchase a bag, but Marvel called the customer to his stall saying that he had the bag at a cheaper price. Subsequently, the customer purchased the bag from Marvel, which then caused Grant to ask why he was always taking away her customers. An argument ensued between her and Marvel, she said, and he began to point his finger in her face. It was then that she swung the plastic bottle she was holding accidentally hitting Marvel. According to Grant, it was not an intentional hit but only an attempt to remove Marvel’s hand from her face.

According to the information presented by the prosecution, on the day in question Marvel was hit with a beer bottle after a customer purchased a bag from his stall instead of Grant’s.

Marvel’s only wish was for the matter to be resolved and for Grant to at least give him some form of compensation for hitting him. Grant then offered to pay Marvel $10,000 in compensation and was warned by Magistrate Moore to refrain from such actions in the future.