Fish vendors complain of stalls being taken away

Three vendors attached to the Kingstown Fish Market claim that their stalls were either taken away or their licence revoked without a valid reason.

The Kingstown Fish Market is now being run by the Agricultural Input Warehouse (AIW), which took over management of the market from the Government in January 2017.

Vendors using the market rent stalls from the managing entity and pay fees for using the facility.

Fitzroy Mercury has been a fish vendor for over 20 years and operated a stall inside the fish market.

He said that on January 8, he was told that he could no longer use the stall and that his licence to sell fish in the market had been revoked.

“I ain’t do nothing, I looking for my rights. I going to the Prime Minister,” said Mercury last week Wednesday.

“I ain’t get no letter stating why I was dismissed. I have my youth to mind and last Monday, they chase me and take away my licence,” complained Mercury, who added that earlier this week, he was cutting fish at a friend’s stall when a market employee accosted him and became aggressive.

“I don’t know what to do,” said the Old Montrose, Dasent Cottage resident.

But, senior fisheries officer Ferique Shortte told SEARCHLIGHT last Thursday that Mercury had never been issued a stall in the market, but, like a few other vendors, was allowed to do business there.

Shortte said that to operate a stall, vendors must pay EC$30 a day and that entitles them to a space, a scale, unlimited water, use of the market’s garbage facilities and cleaning.

“The market reserves the right to distribute the stalls as we see fit,” said Shortte, who added that vendors may share stalls and split the cost.

Also complaining of having her stall taken away was Cora Jack of Redemption Sharpes. She told SEARCHLIGHT she has been a fish vendor for over 50 years. “I was given no reason why the stall was taken away,” said Jack, who, however, noted that she was stopped from using the stall in January 2017, but her licence remains intact.

She said she usually sells her fish from a friend’s stall or uses the walls of the stalls to display her wares.

Jack, last Wednesday, also complained about the rise in prices attached to the market, although she does not operate a stall.

“The prices too high, so you make nothing really with these high prices”, said Jack.

Shortte said when the AIW took over in January 2017, it was found that some people sell fish on a part-time basis and Jack was one of these persons.

He said that these part-time vendors would only pay for the stalls when they want to use them, so the more efficient thing to do was rent the stalls to full-time vendors and allow the part-time sellers to double up.

On Wednesday, several fish vendors expressed annoyance at the increase in the prices and some of the decisions being taken by management.

Vendor Donley Providence said that a few months ago, management wanted to take over a building on the compound that was given to them as a recreational area, where they socialize and play games, like dominoes.

“They wanted to turn it into a tackle shop, but they could not get it and right after, they implemented a lot of new rules and fees and that is putting pressure on fishermen and vendors,” said Providence.

He said the increases in price appear to be an attempt to push the vendors out of the market.

Shortte said that in relation to the recreation room, fishermen had complained that they have problems sourcing certain items, so the AIW decided that they would turn this room into a shop, where they would sell the things that the fishermen need.

“We wanted to turn it into something with economic benefit, so we wanted to help them out and bring ease and access to getting fishing gear, oils, other things; the bulk agreed with it, but some said no, explained Shortte.

Also voicing his concerns was fisherman Paul Prescott, who lives in New York, but comes to St Vincent every year to fish.

“I don’t think the market is being run properly. Fishermen not getting fair treatment…. We paying a lot of money. They never had a meeting; just do things off they own. We need the Government to step in and look at the issue,” declared Prescott.

Shortte told SEARCHLIGHT that when meetings are held, most of the vendors do not attend. He said of the 3,000 fishermen and 42 registered vendors, they would hardly get more than three vendors and 10 fishermen at a meeting.

Shortte said the aim of the AIW is to make the market self-sustainable and continue to provide a place for the sellers and fishermen. He added also that the AIW will be modernizing the stalls soon. He revealed also that canning will soon be done at the market, while different types of corned fish will be offered for sale.

In relation to the complaint that fishermen are not paid fairly, Shortte said that is not the case, as the market pays the fishermen upfront and at cost for their catch.(LC)