Vendors being evicted from ‘All Kinda Things’…given 25 days notice

Joyette Mills-Ward
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE; St. Kitts- VENDORS at the All Kinda Things Mall on the corner of Liverpool Row and College Street Ghaut were sent into a tailspin when they received letters from the Ministry of Tourism on Friday, June 6th informing that they have just about 3 weeks to vacate the premises.

SKNVibes.com was able to get a copy of one of the letters which was dated June 5th and signed by Minister of State responsible for Tourism Honourable Richard Skerritt.

The letter read “… the owners of the property which houses the All Kinda Things Mall have informed the Ministry of Tourism… that they would like ALL the tenants to vacate the premises by June 30th”.

The letter also informed that the Ministry had been notified “at the end of March 2008” and that officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce had attempted to gain an extension from the owners of the property.

Skerritt’s correspondence also stated that the owners’ legal representative communicated to the Tourism Ministry on May 26, 2008 informing that they would not agree to an extension.

The property houses various stalls for small business people who sell wares and clothing and who in turn reportedly pay a monthly rent of EC$50. The government had provided the property after Laws were passed that prohibited persons from vending on sidewalks. The structure had afforded the vendors prime ‘down-town’ location for minimal rent.

The vendors were visibly upset when SKNVibes.com visited the Mall yesterday and most voiced the opinion that they understood the circumstances which required them to vacate the premises but the 25-day notice was insufficient.

“We can understand that we have to move but the notice is too short. That is not enough time to find some place to move to. What are we supposed to do now? And rent in town is so high… how are we going to make a living?” one woman complained.

The Ministry’s letter of notice states that vendors “can be assured that we will continue to do all we can to protect the interests of tenants of the Mall and will not relax these efforts until a suitable arrangement is found”.

~~Adz:Left~~