Dear Editor,
For decades it has been a norm for vendors to ply their trade on the roadsides either on state reserves or pavements in the city or other parts of the country. And while this has become the norm, it by no means suggests it is legal. No doubt these vendors provide an important service to the citizenry. In fact, this practice has been argued to have positive multiplier effects on an economy, by allowing for a chain of interconnected demand for and supply of goods and services which contribute to economic growth and development.
Some may argue that the operation of these roadside vendors is not directly reflected in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On the contrary, it could be proposed that these very roadside operations create a demand for services and goods that is captured in the GDP since it is these same vendors who are some of the largest customers to those businesses registered in the formal sector. Acknowledging that the formal sector, especially in countries like Guyana, is co-dependent on the informal sector, makes it clear that the two sectors are important for the advancement of the country.
Those persons currently involved in streetside vending should be applauded not merely for selling on the streets but for taking a bold step into entrepreneurship and assuming all the risks that come with it. They are creating employment for themselves and indirectly for others. Women especially benefit from this culture of street vending, and this works to contribute to increase the number of women who are active in the labour force and earn money to support their households. Many international conventions and activists in the field of women’s rights and gender equality would support any decent, legal effort to provide jobs for women. Thus, women’s entrepreneurship is especially lauded.
However, an issue arises when the thing which was created to help us leads to hindrances that can potentially erode all the prior benefits derived from it. A flawed system with inefficiencies, lack of regulation enforcement and indiscretion is a good incubator for lawlessness. This is what we are faced with today with vending along the streets and pavements of Georgetown. The Mayor and City Council is now placed in a situation of having to make difficult decisions to correct these shortcomings within the ambit of the law. Thus, the M&CC should not be viewed as an enemy of the vendors but rather as an ally. Regulation of these operations can only lead to increased efficiency and opportunities for small vendors to mature into full-fledged formal business entities.
The council has observed many occasions where vendors have taken advantage of the city’s leniency in allowing them to occupy its pavements and roadsides. Some vendors have ventured to erect permanent, immovable structures from which they conduct their trade. Several have also made these locations into personal dwelling spaces. These and a host of other practices have led to the decay of the city environment due to the indiscriminate dumping of garbage, obstruction to traffic, encumbrances on the pavements and in some areas, even an increase in criminal activity.
The city’s response to the challenges of unregulated roadside vending has been the relocation of vendors into more suitable locations for them to continue their daily trade. Though many have decried the council’s efforts, this will not deter us in the execution of our legal mandate. The council wants to promote the interest and growth of all vendors. Vendors are therefore encouraged to cooperate with the council as it works towards ensuring their needs are met.
The recent relocation of vendors to the Parliament View Mall is not intended to isolate the vendors. In fact this should be viewed as an opportunity for them to benefit from better services from the council. This also presents them with an opportunity to improve the quality of their services and expand their operations. It is this same interest that has led the council to continuously provide appropriate facilities for vendors to grow. This is particularly noteworthy in our previous efforts at upgrading the Merriman Mall and upkeeping the Vendors Arcade and Stabroek amongst others.
The council has further plans to assist roadside vendors in several areas of cooperation, including accommodating them. But this would require an amicable working relationship between the council and vendors. It is the council’s hope that vendors would trust it to advance their interests. This will be done in consultation with them. Vendors as well as the wider citizenry are encouraged to hold the council accountable for its actions as it continues to work in their best interest. Thus far the vendors have done a great job at cooperating with the council and holding us accountable. The council remains resolute that together we can accomplish that mutually beneficial transformation of Georgetown that will ultimately lead to the good life for all, whether directly or indirectly involved in the process.
Finally, we wish to thank our friend Mr Surgrim for allowing us to use his land to facilitate vending activities. This quality of partnership can only help to advance the city. We appreciate this support and hope to begin creating new areas for vendors, who, with their enterprising sprit, wish to do business in the City of Georgetown.
Yours faithfully,
Royston King
Town Clerk of Georgetown
