The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

POTTERS and Arawak Cay vendors who have not signed agreements to settle rent arrears now have until the end of the month to secure good standing with the government, Agriculture Minister V Alfred Gray said yesterday.

The deadline extension, Mr Gray said, came thanks to a positive turn-around by several vendors, who have “begun to do the right thing”.

The minister’s update followed his brief remarks at the opening day of the World Trade Organisation’s conference at the Hilton Hotel, West Bay Street.

Mr Gray said: “I am encouraged by their response to sign the agreements which we have put in place. I continue to speak to the possibility of taking very strong action to those who fail, refuse, or neglect to make arrangements.

“Those who have signed the agreements and paid as we have asked them to, we appreciate that, those who have not yet done so, I encourage them to do so, because I have just yesterday (Monday) extended unilaterally the time for action to the end of this month.”

Mr Gray was not able to say exactly how many of the vendors were complying.

Two weeks ago, Mr Gray warned vendors that failing to sign agreements to bring overdue rent balances up to date would lead to a police-enforced shutdown of businesses on Potter’s Cay and Arawak Cay.

The warning came after a recent meeting in which Mr Gray said several hundred vendors and their associations agreed to a monthly payment scheme to settle arrears.

At the time, officials asked vendors to pay either $100 or $200, depending on where their business was located.

He added that records have shown some vendors with arrears amounting to $30,000 or $40,000, accumulated over a seven or eight year period.

“I had indicated before I went on leave,” Mr Gray said, “that I expect those who are involved in the business at those places, that the arrears that has been allowed to accumulate is unacceptable.

“Those whose leases are in arrears should pay a small amount on the arrears for the vendors at Fish Fry or Arawak Cay.

“I am told that some vendors are belligerent. They are refusing to accept that proposal. And unless the Cabinet of the Bahamas stops me, I am going to ensure that those who have no leases are not licensed. If they have no licence to operate, I am going to ask the police to close them down,” Mr Gray said at the time.