The Tribune

pics uploaded

Captions:

1. Vice President of the Festival Place Tenants Association Wendy Kelly (right) and vendor Eldena Cartwright voiced there frustations to the media yesterday.

2. Vendors at a temporary stall at the Wharf.

3. President of the Festival Place Tenants Association Yvette Prince.

(Photos by Lamond Johnson/Tribune Staff)

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

FESTIVAL Place vendors were yesterday up in arms, one of them brought to tears, as they recalled their financial difficulties since being relocated this week to the Prince George Wharf. They called on Prime Minister Perry Christie to intervene on their behalf.

Many of the vendors complained to The Big T that since taking up shop at the Wharf for the last four days, their earnings have been meagre with some unable to make $200. Normally, the vendors said, they could take home up to $600 per day while they occupied Festival Place.

On Tuesday the vendors - who number more than 30 - said they were told by government officials that it was mandatory to complete a “dry run relocation” to the Wharf with the promise of returning to Festival Place the next day.

The government has undertaken extensive renovations to the building to repair the roof and floor of the facility. Vendors said they were told the works could take up to one year to complete.

However, President of the Festival Place Tenants Association Yvette Prince said by Tuesday afternoon they were told that they could not return, but instead would have to stay in the temporary booths until further notice.

Straw artisan Elvina Cartwright said her staff has been sent home until further notice because the relocation has caused a huge blow to business. “I get emotional because I am a person who cares about my staff,” she explained.

“I depend on the business for my living. I have had staff for over 10 years and one of them is a single mother with children in college and this week I had to send my staff home and next week I don’t know what I am going to tell them. Every day we are out here. Yesterday the girl made $70 and that was the biggest day. We have not made $200 from when we’re out here so how can I pay people. They go to the same food store that everyone else goes to. The light bill is the same. But they have set up to fail.”

Another vendor, Wendy Kelly, vice president of the Association, questioned why the vendors were not involved in the planning of the relocation. She pointed to the orientation of the booths with the front facing the street and the back to water. The positioning, she said, has not given tourists coming into the harbour a good idea of all the vendors are offering.

She said: “Today is hot and ain’t no money making out here. What’s more frustrating is that the boats are parked behind us and all we smell all day is fumes coming in and its hard to breath.

“We have staff to pay, supplies to buy and since we came to the press no official has held any meetings with the vendors. It is a shame and a disgrace.”

In addition to demanding relocation from Prince George Wharf, the vendors want contracts to secure a spot in Festival Place when the renovations are complete, suitable bathroom facilities and for officials to address flooding in the area among other things.

Attempts were made to reach Ministry of Tourism officials but up to press time the Big T was unsuccessful.