Government’s handling of Stabroek vendors ill advised – AFC

Jan 14, 2011 News

The Alliance For Change (AFC) stated yesterday that it regards the Government’s handling of the Stabroek vendors, after the grenade explosion, “as ill advised and tantamount to burning down the house to find the pig”.
At a press conference hosted by the party, Executive Member Martin Cheong said that there is matter in manner, and such a bulldozing attitude is not in keeping with the humanism that is required whenever the termination of livelihoods is concerned, especially for so many.
It was posited that even if pronouncements from Ministers Rohee, Benn and Lall are correct that lawlessness existed there, such alleged lawlessness must not be countered by executive lawlessness.
Cheong stated that the AFC noted too how the vendors are being booted around and being used like a political football among the political hierarchy.
He argued that there must be a more systemized, orderly arrangement for the establishment and enforcement of vending in the City and countrywide to bring a sense of certainty to the lives of vendors.
The view was forwarded that this arbitrariness where vendors, by virtue of the acquiescence of the authorities, are led to legitimately expect that their stalls will not be removed, and then such a sudden demolition without notice, will create anger and hardship and a disequilibrium which inevitably will result in a multiplicity of societal ills.
Cheong concluded that the AFC wishes to reiterate that all of this has occurred because jobs are not being created by Government so as to realize purposeful employ for able bodied men and women.
“It is the fight to survive which forces able bodied persons into being itinerant vendors in areas not befitting our once garden city, and country wide”.