Give us til December – Vendors (+Video)

A notice from the Kingstown Town Board informing vendors that they will not be allowed to occupy the area in front the P.H. Veira building was not sufficient to get them to vacate the premises.

Vendors returned on Monday morning to set up shop despite a notice that had been issued to them over the weekend stating that they would be “unable to occupy the current space” on November 14.

The vendors told SEARCHLIGHT they are “not pleased” with the action being taken by the Town Board and they are pleading with the authorities to allow them to stay until after the Christmas holidays as there will be increased shopping activity around that time.

“The year almost finished, they could let we stay until December. Is all bills we have to pay and…is beg me have to beg to get money to send my daughter to college,” Joan Frank said.

She said that on Saturday, officials from the Kingstown Town Board informed the group that alternate accommodation will be made but there was no clear answer as to where the vendors will go.

searchlight reporter Christina Smith (left), speaking to a vendor in Kingstown yesterday.

Elsa, said she has been vending at that location for almost three decades and feels saddened by the directive from the Kingstown Town Board to vacate. She also said the vendors believe that a move to the market will negatively affect their sales.

“I have two special needs children to take care of… I have to make our passage from Richland Park to Kingstown everyday, that is $30. I rather to be outside. I used to work inside the market and every morning you come you have to throw your stuff in the garbage. Nobody come in there to buy so that is why we come on the streets.”

An end of an era – PH Veira & Co. Ltd signs being taken down.

One male vendor told SEARCHLIGHT that the group has grown “accustomed” to operating from the location and they would prefer to stay there and relocate in early January 2023.

New management took over operations of the businesses of PH Veira on Monday with trucks arriving to deliver stock in the afternoon.

A vendor sets up his stall outside PH Veira & Co Ltd.

The Ministry of Urban Development is set to officially open two vegetable markets on Thursday for the relocation of vendors from the streets.