BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas has expressed his empathy for vendor Ivy Adams but maintains that breaking of the Federation’s laws must never be condoned.
“I have asked the Development Control and Planning Board (DCPB) and the relevant authorities in the ministry, maybe what we need to do it to find an appropriate drive-off area from the highway as you would see in other countries; but I must say that encouraging violation of the laws and regulations cannot be tolerated. I have tried to explain this as much as I can and I really must insist that the laws be protected and the laws be preserved,” Dr. Douglas explained during the most recent edition of his weekly radio programme “Ask the PM”.
Adams sells cooked goods, Mondays through to Fridays, at the West Basseterre Bypass Road just behind the Project Strong compound. Several weeks ago, she was issued a letter by the Development Control and Planning Board indicating that her activity there “poses a serious safety issue to the motoring public using the road”.
According to Adams, she was asked to move from three other locations, and after moving others had occupied and are still occupying the spaces.
Chairman of the Board Victor Williams explained to SKNVibes that the situation is such that if Adams were allowed to vend in that area, it would set an unwanted precedent which could result in many vendors conducting business along that road. The danger, he explained, arises because the “poll off” on which persons would park their vehicles, in order to patronise the vendors, is designed for emergencies only and should not be abused.
Dr. Douglas disclosed that he had met with Adams and is sympathetic to her situation. Be that as it may, however, he, as Minister with responsibility for Sustainable Development, must be guided by the law.
“Ivy is a hard working woman, has always been. In fact, I have been very impressed. I almost cried when I sat with her in my office a few weeks ago and listened to her struggles that she has been through as a woman who has really been trying hard to make a living; a decent living, legal living in this country as a vendor. She thinks that the vending is her special call, her special skill, and she seems to have the support of the public. Despite that, violation of the laws of this country cannot be encouraged and I in particular, understand, very clearly, Ivy’s situation.”
The Sustainable Development Minister echoed the sentiments expressed by DCPB Chairman Williams, emphasising that this is not a personal attack on Adams. He promised that other individuals found to be contravening the law would also be asked to vacate the areas they now occupy.
“YES, the question is asked well how come you are not doing it for others who are around downtown, especially when Ivy herself said that she has had several cases where she has been around town and was eventually chased away. How come people are now going to those spots that she was chased away from? This is because over a period of time, we have allowed laxity in the application of the laws to occur and so violations continued to occur…
“She asked a question. ‘What about the one or two vendors who are along the island main road…Needs Must area, which is a violation clearly?’ I brought that to the attention of the Development Control and Planning Board authorities and they said that is a violation and we are also insisting that that be removed.”
