The body in charge of the management of St John’s and its environs, St John’s Development Corporation (SJDC), has recently issued a mandate to all street vendors within the city in order to facilitate overnight cleaning of streets and gutters.
The directive, which affects all vending structures including tents, tables, stands, and any other fixture, has sparked mixed reactions among the city’s vendor community, with some expressing frustration over logistical challenges while others see it as necessary for maintaining the city’s appearance.
“It affects my business a lot because every day when I come out in the morning, I’ve got to pay somebody to bring me out. And I’ve got to pay somebody to take me back in,” lamented a vendor with seven to eight years of experience on Market Street, responding to the St John’s Development Corporation’s recent order requiring vendors to remove their structures at the end of each business day.
“I’m taking out the tent constantly. It mashes up the screws; it’s not strong like before. So every time you take out the tent, the screws come out,” explained the same vendor, highlighting how the daily assembly and dismantling is damaging their equipment. “So as far as I’m concerned, everybody has to buy back the tent. Because the tent falls apart so fast.”
However, not all vendors oppose the measure. One merchant — who said she has been plying her trade on Market Street for 18 years — voiced support for the SJDC’s decision. “I don’t have no problem to move my tent. Some of the tents don’t look good, so the people have a right to make everybody move their tents,” she said, adding that she already removes her tent at the end of each business day.
Another seller emphasized the importance of maintaining the city’s appearance, particularly for tourism. “We’re not supposed to leave no tent up. Put the tent, carry our tent, carry everything. That’s it.” Remove the covering in the evening when they don’t do their business. And put it back in the morning because it don’t look good when you leave it here, and this is a tourist island.”
The directive from SJDC warns that vendors who fail to comply will have their items removed at their expense. According to City Manager Carolyn Thomas Parker, the measure represents a more stringent enforcement of existing regulations rather than a new policy.
“This is nothing new. St John’s Development Corporation, as part of our management of the city and vending, we would issue such notices to our vendors. It’s a regular routine,” Parker explained in an interview. “The situation right now is that we have actually ramped up this disciplinary action because we realize that we are having challenges, especially in respect of our ability to clean the streets, the drains, and the gutters.”
Parker detailed how vending structures often interfere with essential city maintenance.
“These structures situated along drains and gutters obstruct regular cleaning and maintenance. And as you are aware, when these are blocked, it leads to water stagnation, garbage accumulation, and all other sundry matters,” she said.
The city manager acknowledged that the Corporation had previously been lenient with enforcement, taking into consideration vendors with disabilities or transportation limitations. However, she noted that public concerns about the state of St John’s have necessitated stricter measures.
“As a consequence of our lenience, there has been public outcry,” Parker said. “We just need to have persons comply, and work along with us. It has reached a stage where we just have to do what we have to do.”
Despite the enforcement measures, Parker acceded that the Corporation values the vendors’ contributions to the local economy.
“We do value our vendors and we do appreciate what they bring to the local economy. But we all have to work together to ensure that at the end of the day, that we have a city that is at least pristine, clean, something we can be proud of,” she said.
Parker drew comparisons to other cities, questioning why Antigua should operate differently. “The great New York City has vendors and you will see them sometimes during the day. You will see the vending operations; you will see the kiosks and then later on when you go by, you don’t see anything,” she noted. “I was in Barbados recently and we went down into Bridgetown and there were vendors and we went back down late in the night and the area was absolutely clean. Nothing existed and nothing remained. Why is it that we have to be different in Antigua and Barbuda?”
St John’s Development Corporation has confirmed that compliance will be monitored by inspectors as part of their daily operations.
