Two months after being relocated from the Castries Vendors Arcade, many displaced vendors say they are still waiting for answers as uncertainty continues to surround the redevelopment project, compensation payments and their eventual return.
With business slowing at temporary locations and many vendors still unable to resume operations, concerns are mounting over the pace of the relocation process and the lack of communication from the authorities.
President of the Craft and Dry Goods Vendors’ Association, Peter Isaac, said the last formal engagement between vendors and the Castries Constituency Council took place on June 15, when dozens of vendors were expected to be relocated to newly constructed booths.
“The last time there was a meeting with the Castries Constituency Council with vendors was the 15th of last month, which was the day when people were supposed to be, about 44 vendors were supposed to be relocated in 44 booths that were supposed to be prepared for that particular time,” Isaac said.
“But that did not happen.”
He explained that officials cited several outstanding issues that prevented the relocation from proceeding as planned.
“As a result, there was a few areas they mentioned about glitches and itches or whatever, that the toilets were not ready and some of the booths were not completed as planned,” he said.
“So this is the present situation, what I know of now.”
Isaac said vendors continue to seek updates from the association, believing it has access to information about the project.
“As the president of the Vendors Association, I’m inundated with calls and people stopping me all the time, calling me, asking me whatever,” he said. “People are advising other people to contact me. I’m the person who they believe that may know anything about that.”
However, he admitted that he has received very little information himself.
“Well, I don’t know much about how this thing is working, the trappings of it. I don’t know what it’s going to be about in terms of when.”
Isaac noted that work has been taking place at the former Provision Market, where some vendors are expected to be accommodated, although he believes the facility cannot absorb everyone displaced from the arcade.
“The provision market, where the provision market used to be, there has been some transformation going on there for some time now,” he said.
“And I suspect they are now putting a few vendors there.”
He questioned how effective the arrangement would be given the limited space available.
“I don’t know how that would work out for them, but they are putting a few there,” Isaac said.
“The place cannot hold the 115 vendors who are occupying the Vendors Arcade, but they are doing some sort of relocation and renovate some of the stalls there that would accommodate a few vendors.”
According to Isaac, many vendors remain without a place to conduct business.
“But apart from that, the majority of vendors are actually at their home,” he said.
The continued delays have left many displaced vendors waiting for clarity on compensation, permanent relocation and the timeline for the completion of the new Vendors Arcade, as they hope the redevelopment project will eventually provide the fresh start they were promised.