Vendor complains of rat infestation in market

Vendors assigned to the Downtown Vegetable Market are hoping that the authorities can get a handle on the issue of rats invading the market in an effort to prevent loss of revenue.

The issue was highlighted after some vendors turned up to their stalls this week to find that some ground provisions had been eaten out.

One vendor who preferred not to be named, told SEARCHLIGHT that from as far back as July, vendors became aware that some type of pest was nibbling at the goods which they usually store in the market overnight.

She said the issue was raised to the Kingstown Town Board (KTB) repeatedly and rat poison was placed at different areas around the market both in front and to the rear of the buildings.

The vendor said while they laud the effort of the KTB, they believe that the bait has not been producing the desired result as the pellets are too large. They also criticized the do-it-yourself rat bait stations which have been set down using a piece of plastic pipe propped against the wall with the bait inserted inside.

The vendor said they also have health concerns, considering that members of the public regularly frequent the market to purchase vegetables and provisions.

She said what continues to rub salt in the wound of the vendors who moved into the market two years ago, is the move by the Kingstown Town Board to refuse to collect arrears from vendors who operate outside the market.

“Anybody who stay outside and sell, Town Board not collecting no money from we. But how we will want to stay in a market and rat all there bout?”

The notice the vendor referred to was a letter circulated by the KTB to market vendors with outstanding payments titled ‘Notice of Arrears and Reminder of Compliance’, dated November 18, 2024.

“This recurring arrears and repeated follow-ups…is unacceptable,” the notice said. It also warned that operating outside the confines of the market was prohibited and could lead to the forfeiture of assigned stalls.

The range of arrears owned to KTB run into hundreds of dollars for some. The KTB has set down the deadline for

payment of arrears as Saturday, November 30, 2024.