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Craft Alive Vendors anxious about ‘tent city’ removal

- Express relief at being back in business
The newly re-opened Crafts Alive Village. Photo: VINO
Sign of things to come? Soon this area will be clear of all tents and vendors according to Minister for Communication & Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool. Photo: VINO
Sign of things to come? Soon this area will be clear of all tents and vendors according to Minister for Communication & Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – While some vendors at the recently re-opened Crafts Alive Village expressed relief for being able to return to their livelihoods after being out of business for almost five months, others were more fixated on the notion that there will no longer be unfair competition between separate craft centres.

One vendor who wished to remain anonymous said, “We will have all the tourists come to one place and we will have no competition like down there and over here, just over here.”

Another vendor who shared similar sentiments added, “When tourists come they will go in everybody place and if they want to buy [then they will] buy.”

The Village, which remains under construction, was partially opened on November 20, 2012 to allow vendors who were previously there to re-open their businesses to the public.

Unfair competition

The craft vendors explained that when persons came and were told about prices at the various shops in the Village, they would usually say “Let’s go back over at ‘tent city’,” and were relieved that they would no longer have to endure this since they felt all the craft vendors would now be on a level playing field.

“They would go and say they going to the flea market,” one vendor interjected, “over by the flea market has it cheaper.”

“It ain’t gonna be no more tent city or flea market,” one vendor who identified herself as Rita said.

Most of the vendors, while expressing an understanding that sales would be slow during the current period, were grateful to be able to ply their trade once more and to have the chance to take advantage of the opportunity that was presented with the current tourist season and accompanying number of ships.

One of the vendors said the lengthy layoff period had “put a hole” in her pocket and added “it’s not a good feeling”.

“Every month the bills rolling in and you don’t have the money to pay for it but even though you have something put aside you have to go there every month,” she said.

Showing faith

“Things are not good yet, because no money is coming in,” said Valina. “We were here yesterday and we didn't make anything, and same thing today, but we have faith.”

The vendors were happy about the paint job that now brightens their once old huts and expressed that they had to do minor work on the insides including painting and repairs.

The vendors were particularly vocal about persons who were selling at ‘tent city’ without trade licences and were happy that this was also something they would no longer have to contend with as all the new vendors at the Village are required to have a trade licence in order to open their doors to the public.

Some of the vendors showed off their work and was sure to point out that they had locally made craft products which they revealed was a requirement to be in the Village.

Minister for Communications & Works Hon. Mark Vanterpool had recently announced that the Village would be opened on November 20, 2012 in spite of the ongoing construction work around the Village.

'Tent City' to be demolished

Meanwhile, City Manager Janis Braithwaite-Edwards had stated in a Government Information Service (GIS) press release that “Tent City" vendors will be phased in over the next week at the Crafts Alive Village as the construction works come to an end.

The City Manager, according to the release, also revealed that “once the new Crafts Alive Market is established, “tent city” will no longer exist. It will be demolished and no vending of any kind will be allowed in the area.”

Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith had announced in his budget speech in the House of Assembly on November 15, 2012 that the re-designed Crafts Alive Village will be opened in two weeks time.

“We committed to improve the appearance of Wickham’s Cay and Main Street for visitors and citizens alike. The refurbished and expanded Crafts Alive project opens in the next two weeks bringing an end to the unsightly 'Tent City' and improving the overall appearance of lower Road Town,” Premier Smith had said.

23 Responses to “Craft Alive Vendors anxious about ‘tent city’ removal ”

  • pope (22/11/2012, 08:25) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The squatters cashed in…nuff said.......?
  • billyb (22/11/2012, 08:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    People just can't please ayo. As soon as they solve one problem for ayo, ayo start complaining bout the next problem. geeezum-bread man. You can't have it both ways. You get the civilized space yuh want, now you complaining bout competitive pricing???? Soon ayo gonna want the government to buy the stuff from ayo what yuh can't get sold. Ayo sickening now.
    • @ billyb (22/11/2012, 09:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      but you have achieved nothing!!!!

      • billyb (22/11/2012, 11:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        you know an aweful lot about me!!! Good for you
        • native boy (22/11/2012, 18:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Billy B is a classic case of the tail wanting to wag the dog
          • travel (23/11/2012, 06:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
            As usual a major project with few locals trade men on it...Let’s see who stands to benefit from this...oh I can answer a bunch of island people just like Mark!!!.
    • mother earth (22/11/2012, 09:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      TO BILLY B; What a tired, lazy, typical stupid response...Trying to rally the rest of foolishly like minded NDP cowbirds?

      • billyb (22/11/2012, 11:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        right back at yuh!!! You are so bright, the glare has obscured your vision from realizing that this has nothing to do with NDP or VIP, and everything to do with being gratitude and conscience.
        • first of all (22/11/2012, 14:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          oh please!!! the even more sad melee tis they are going to be selling a bunch of nonsence made in china!
    • egg face (22/11/2012, 12:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      where do you live La La land?
    • red falg (22/11/2012, 14:55) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      About time for these people get a place as dem muss have to realize that they cannot take what is not theres to take..wid tent on dey people dem land!

  • bat man (22/11/2012, 10:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    No disrespect, but how is it that people squatted on people land for over 15 years then the government turn around a pay over 1 million yes over 1 million to build things for them white the rest of us playing by the rules are told there is no money for education, health and other services…this is madness..some departments will be better off close because we are told no money for tools to work with!

    Think about it BVI . Be careful what you wish for you might just get it and you might not like the end results. Think on these things.
    • captain (22/11/2012, 10:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      My sentiments exactly
      • --------------- (22/11/2012, 14:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        So where do u want the homeless vendors to go?, just have them all over the streets setting up tents in doorways and car parks??? Mark this is a good thing you did and you have the support of at least your district.
  • not them again (22/11/2012, 14:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is highly unlikely that any private landlord would leave a property empty for a long period...somebody getting ready to build the real issue...now it cost us a million usd

    • Release (22/11/2012, 18:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      look how Mark sweet talk doc and got over a million dollars for this lil project he was successful trying to sell ice to the Eskimos in Alaska!!!
  • EAST END (22/11/2012, 15:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    some of these blogs shows just how petty and tribal some of ayo tis
  • Victor (22/11/2012, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Most of these ignorant bloggers are just playing politics they could care less about the country. All they're upset about is because for 4yrs the place looked like a big stinking ghetto with millions spent and nothing seen. Now in just one year the entire place has been revamped. This is why they're making noise and trying to change the subject to something else trying to rile up emotions. BOOOO!
    • CJ (23/11/2012, 00:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      thankfully good sense has thus far prevailed and everything has occurred in a peaceful atmosphere
  • A B C (22/11/2012, 19:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I cannot wait to see Shanty Town torn down and done away with FOREVER. It has been and continues to be a huge eyesore, and certainly sends the wrong message to our visitors. How we allowed this shameful site to seep into the territory is beyond me, but it is something that should have never been in the first place. Can you imagine what goes through a tourist's mind when entering our beautiful islands for the first time? It sends the wrong message, and the sooner we are rid of this dump heap, the better. First impressions are lasting. I hope that from now onward, the people say what they mean and mean what they say. Enough is enough. Please....no more squalor. We are way above that.
  • BREAKING NEWS (23/11/2012, 08:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    See value for money ? A Government in ACTION!! Only time town look nice, clean and pretty is when NDP is in Government!
    • ooooo (23/11/2012, 12:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      some ah ayo need locking up....i dont see how 6 plyboard huts, some bricks and a few half flowers could cause way over a million dollars?......bunch ah pirates
  • jude (25/11/2012, 17:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    THEY GAVE THE VENDORS LAND TO USE FOR YEARS, AND MAKE THE CAPITAL LOOK LIKE A SHANTY TOWN, THEN TURNED AROUND AND BUILT NEW HOUSES FOR THEM. i DON'T THINK THAT GOVERNMENT OWE THEM ANY THING, WHY CAN THEY DO THEIR OWN? HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO BE A CHARITY NATION.


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