BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FOLLOWING the publication of a number of articles by this media house in which vendors had voiced their concern about conditions at the Amina Craft Market on Port Zante, the action of an employee suggested that the Ministry of Tourism prefers to remain silent on the matter.
When contacted yesterday (Jun.16) for a comment on the complaints, a female employee of the Ministry of Tourism, who enquired about the nature of the call, told SKNVibes Business that “she’s not in office”.
When pressed for the name of the individual who is authorised to speak on the matter, this publication was rudely told: “I was only told that she is not in office.”
Recently, a number of vendors at the Craft Market made several complaints to SKNVibes Business about the state of the commercial center and the conditions under which they ply their trade on Port Zante.
They are of the view that the individuals in authority are not looking into the situation and are only making promises.
Their problems range from flooding, leakage of the roof, vandalism and security.
“We have been complaining for years now and they have been coming and looking at the place, but they have not done anything to rectify the situation. The other day they came with surveyors to look at the place but they have not done anything,” a vendor said.
One vendor said that whenever there is heavy rainfall the market would be flooded and her items on sale would be drenched if she does not act quickly, because of the manner in which the stalls were constructed.
“They should try and renovate and make it better for the weather conditions. It is very challenging to us when the rains come because I would have to pull everything in. I would also have to move my tables, not only from the rain that is being propelled by strong winds, but also from the leaking roofs. They should put something in place to avoid the rain from coming into the stalls…something that would act as a windbreaker.”
The vendor further stated that whenever the rain falls heavily, especially during the hurricane season, walkways at the market are flooded and this adversely affects customers going there to purchase from them.
Another posited that in addition to the weather condition, problems of vandalism are being experienced on a regular basis.
“My stall is usually vandalised by persons who walk the area at night because there is no proper security along the Port for the Market. People would come in here at nights and eat. They would leave their bones and we would have to clean up. They should also do something about the security.”
The vendor claimed that several reports were made at the Ministry of Tourism but they were constantly met with “we will look into it”.
Speaking with a senior public servant on the condition of anonymity, he was of the view that some government workers are only interested in the salary they receive at the end of the month.
“That particular employee who your media house spoke with needs to be trained in Customer Service. Those are the kinds of people who make the government get a bad name. Everything that goes wrong in government agencies because of the treatment meted out to persons by some employees, it reflects on the government, more so the Prime Minister, who knows nothing of what transpired and would never condone such behaviour,” he opined.
