The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

STRAW vendors say the two-day closure of the Bay Street Straw Market is costing them badly needed income during an already slow sales period, with some losing additional working days as they prepared their stalls for the annual cleaning exercise.

Straw Business Persons Society president Rebecca Small-Morley said vendors were given about a month’s notice that the market would close yesterday and today, but said the timing remained difficult for people who depend on daily sales.

The Straw Market Authority said the 48-hour closure was necessary for annual deep cleaning, repairs and maintenance that could not be carried out while the market was open. The market is expected to reopen at 7am tomorrow.

Executive Chairman Joseph Johnson said in a statement that the closure would allow teams to carry out “essential work” to maintain a safe and clean environment for vendors, staff and visitors.

Ms Small-Morley said vendors did not object to the need for cleaning, but want future maintenance organised to limit disruption to their income.

She said vendors were initially asked to remove their merchandise from the market altogether, but she and the Straw Advancements Association objected.

Ms Small-Morley recalled an earlier incident in which a vendor removed her products, and heavy rain affected some, leaving her with additional transportation and labour costs.

Vendors instead agreed to remove merchandise from the floor and place it inside their stalls.

Ms Small-Morley said future cleaning could be carried out after vendors leave for the day or during quieter evening hours, with specialised work scheduled separately when necessary.

“I'm hoping that they could hire people going forward who could come in and do cleaning at a certain point where we wouldn't have to be disrupted any longer from any income, especially during the low season,” she said.

Ms Small-Morley said vendors had agreed to the two-day closure, but hoped future arrangements could be made around their operating hours.

Even small amounts of daily income matter during the slow period, she said.

“I got a vendor who said I made $30 one day. The next day, I made $40,” Ms Small-Morley said. “I'm just saying, if she needed to buy lunch, she still could buy lunch. That may not be much, but it's something coming in.”

She said the closure is particularly difficult for vendors without substantial savings.

“Let's face it, an average person doesn't have $1,000 in their savings account to say, we have a week off; that's not an average person,” Ms Small-Morley said.

The Straw Market Authority said the closure also forms part of a broader effort to support vendors.

The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage is scheduled to hold its inaugural vendor empowerment session today, with sessions from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm.

Ms Small-Morley said vendors who attend will receive a one-week rent discount. She said the listening session will also allow vendors to raise concerns and make suggestions about the market’s future.

However, she said communication between vendors and the newly appointed Straw Market Authority board remains a concern.

Ms Small-Morley said vendors have heard the names of board members but have not been formally introduced to them or told about their plans for the market.

“You don't know who is who, and that's a problem because I feel that you should introduce yourself to the two leaders of the market,” she said. “Give us your game plan, ask us what we are expecting or looking forward to from the new board, but nothing of that nature has happened.”

Ms Small-Morley said she could not say when the new board was appointed and described communication at the market as a problem.

She said she hopes the board will establish better communication with vendors and their representatives.

Ms Small-Morley also dismissed speculation that the closure was connected to the upcoming visit of King Charles III, saying she had received no indication that it was.