M&CC pilots Regent St flea market for back to school shopping

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will pilot a ‘flea market’ starting this weekend to allow persons selling back-to-school items to vend on the Regent Street between Cummings and Alexander streets.

Public Relations Officer of the M&CC Debra Lewis said yesterday that the council has decided to pilot the initiative to assist “dry goods” vendors who have been complaining of poor sales at Parliament View Mall. 

She said this is the M&CC’s way of demonstrating that it is looking after the vendors’ best interest. The initiative will allow vendors who are plying their trade at Parliament View Mall to vend out in the open. No fruit, vegetable, food or beverage vending will be allowed between Cummings and Alexander streets, Lewis said.

She said that while other vendors will also be allowed to sell in that section, the vendors from Parliament View Mall would be given first preference. Vendors will only be allowed to operate during the day over the next two weekends.

The Public Relations Officer explained that at the end of the period, the M&CC will evaluate the operations and make adjustments to areas that did not work; it will also decide on how often the flea market will operate.

Lewis further urged vendors to make use of garbage receptacles and keep the environs in which they will be vending clean and tidy.