The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net STRAW vendors said yesterday that their greater visibility along Prince George Wharf has increased sales volumes, with one vendor telling Tribune Business business was "200 per cent better" since moving from the makeshift tent on Bay Street. Vendors interviewed yesterday expressed their eagerness to move into the new $12 million Straw Market, with many optimistic it would increase their profit potential. Vendors have been notified that all stalls on the Prince George Dock and Bay Street area will be demolished at midnight tonight in preparation for the highly anticipated opening of the new market. Straw vendor Jenny Fernander told Tribune Business: "Since we came from out under the tent, business has been 200 per cent better out here on the wharf. "All the tourists used to walk from their tour back to the boat; they rarely came to the market. I don't know why no one ever took it upon themselves to let them know where the Straw Market was. They led them back to the boat, and a lot of people never come back off the boat. "Now, when they walk back to the boat they walk by us, so they see us and they come back, so that's the advantage we have out here." Mrs Fernander added: "The only disadvantage is when it rains and you have to pack up at the end of the day. I've been in the market all of my life. I hope we could accomplish what we hope for, a good week's wage." With regards to the transition to the new market she said: "I don't know what it will mean for business because that's a new place. I don't know what to look forward to but I am looking forward to the best." Straw vendor Brenda Wilson-Ferguson told Tribune Business: "We are looking forward to the move to the new market. I'm really grateful for being out here because I was in the market not making a dollar. I think the move to the new market is going to be great. I think we can get more business in there; we are all going to be in one place." Straw vendor Geneva Carey said: "We will have more space in the new market and it will be better all around. It's a nice building. I'm ready to move. I really don't have much space out here; over there is much better." Telator Strachan, president of the Straw Vendors Association, added: "I'm ready for the move. I'm just hoping and praying we have a nice, smooth transition because it's long awaited." In 2001, the original Straw Market was burnt to the ground, forcing hundreds of vendors to seek refuge in a makeshift tent not far from the original site. A fire on Bay Street two weeks ago displaced over 40 vendors, destroying the historic Pompey Museum, SunTime and Da Balcony Night Club. Under the new regulations outlined in the Straw Market Authority Act, registered occupants of the market must ensure their National Insurance Board contributions, and those of their helpers, are up to date, in order to get their business and operation licenses renewed. NIB officials said last week that half the 626 registered straw vendors had paid outstanding contributions to date, and 129 have entered into payment plans to bring their accounts up to date. The new regulations also ban pushy, smelly vendors, the selling of counterfeit brand name-goods, smoking and cosmetology practices. Also, vendors who break any rules will be subject to fines and have their licenses suspended or revoked.