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Vendors 'Keep Out' from RT Roundabout; We mean it!
It was on July 10, 2017 that the Ministry of Communications and Works headed by Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) issued a notice for the vendors to remove from the area. The vendors, some Virgin Islanders, Belongers and Caribbean nationals living in the Virgin Islands for years, used the area to sell coconut water, fruits, vegetables and fish among other items.
Well there were reports that one vendor had returned to the area yesterday July 12, 2017; however, late yesterday Government had placed barriers in the area as an indication for the vendors to keep out.
Many of the vendors told the local media that they were told about moving the same day as the notice was issued and they felt they were treated unfairly.
Mixed reaction
There have been mixed reactions from the public by the Government's move to prevent the poor or the “little man” from making a living.
Many in the business and upper class in the British Overseas Territory welcomed the move, saying the vendors had the area unsightly, and were depriving businesses of sale and that the vendors have no overhead.
However, others in the community including talk show hosts, civil society and the media blasted the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government for the way they treated the poor and less fortunate. The critics of the vendor removal action said the NDP Administration has a history of not caring for the poor or the “little man” when in fact the vendors were making an honest living in Premier Smith's so called robust economy.
One person speaking to our newsroom in a previous article said "the people who are being pushed out without giving them an alternative looks like us; however, you noticed that people who do not look like us can get a free $7.2 Million of our tax payers money with no issue."
The long time resident from Spy Glass Hill on the western end of Tortola said “something is wrong with this picture.”
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49 Responses to “Vendors 'Keep Out' from RT Roundabout; We mean it!”
Next thing you all arguing who in who's spot. None of you have a spot there. It belongs to the government. Have town looking like muck. Get moving and keep out. Case closed
These people you speak of will never rule these islands, ever. Many of them seem to be vagabonds who cannot survive in their home countries. They are not as bright (on average) as you make them out to be. And the days of us locals giving them the benefit of the doubt and priority treatment are long gone.
As for the Queen taking over these islands with direct rule, what benefit will that get her? There are no more slaves or cheap colonial labor here. Plus she has more urgent worries with the Russians, the Chinese, the EU and those terrorists up there than to bother us.
The upper class full of sh*t and if you see where some of them live!
BVI,either you are concerned about crime and quality of life or you are not .Stop the contradictory gibberish and get on with it.
ew locals and all these upper Caribbean xpats
Lord Bless The Leaders of the BVI
I agree that the vendors being there wasn't too sightly however, it probably could've been handled a bit better. At the end of the day, people are not standing there in sun or rain for fun, it's obvious they're trying to make a dollar and it's obvious it's working because they continue to ply the trade there. How about meeting, finding solutions and relocate them in a proper manner. To be honest, those barricades look far worst than the vendors being set up there so what has been achieved really? I'm not a fan of all the small man talk nonsense as it's not genuine but rather used as a political tool. However, let's be fair to these people man, not because they're not big money people we treat them like sh*t. It is time we get proper rules in place to deal with these car washes, food vans, tent shops etc. taking up parking and deal with it ACROSS THE BOARD! Nit picking here and there only makes matters worst. Grow some balls Government!