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Crafts Alive vendors dispute non-payment claims

Vendors at the Crafts Alive Village have refuted claims that they are refusing to pay the rent for their shops and have insisted that they are awaiting a meeting with authorities before a final figure is decided on. VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Vendors at the Crafts Alive Village have refuted claims that they are refusing to pay the rent for their shops and have insisted that they are awaiting a meeting with authorities before a final figure is decided on.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the vendors reiterated that they are still awaiting a pending meeting with officials who have control over the Village, including Minister for Communications and Works Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool.

“It’s not that people [vendors] don’t want to pay, it’s the way it was done – unprofessionally,” one vendor argued.

They related that the planned meeting is being organised to have discussions on a revised rental arrangement which was first reportedly raised at a meeting with the Works Minister in November 2013.

Vendors previously complained that it was unfair to have everyone pay a standard fee when the sizes of the shops were different. “We cannot be in an 8’x10’ space and they’re in a 12’x20’ space and pay the same price,” one vendor argued.

The current rental agreements that the vendors have signed requires that they pay $250 per month during the cruise season and $150 per month during the ‘slow’ season (May to October).

Some have suggested that they are comfortable with paying $150 per month throughout the year for the smaller sized shops but need to meet with officials to iron out their concerns.

They argued that there has been some delay in resolving the issues since officials have sought to meet with a single representative about the vendors concerns instead of all vendors as it was hoped for.

“The way everything was done was not professional,” another vendor agreed. She argued that during the four month grace period after the vendors first entered the revamped village in November 2012. They continued to ask about the rental arrangement in place but were not given any figures.

They stated that they were suddenly asked to pay a deposit of $350 and two months’ rental fees which they felt was unreasonable.

Efforts to contact City Manager Janice Brathwaite-Edwards and other officials for comment on the issues raised by the vendors proved unsuccessful up to post time.

18 Responses to “Crafts Alive vendors dispute non-payment claims”

  • xxxxxxxx (26/04/2014, 09:51) Like (8) Dislike (21) Reply
    bottom line NDP must go!
  • DON Q (26/04/2014, 11:26) Like (2) Dislike (11) Reply
    Just leave the ppl alone
    • ---------------- (26/04/2014, 23:18) Like (0) Dislike (6) Reply
      I am so sick of all of the outlandish plicies to hurt the poor in the country
  • Yes (26/04/2014, 12:05) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply
    Do these ppl know how much rent costs in road town? Wowwwww unbelievable. If I was govt I would raise the rent to market rates and lease to ppl who will pay.
    • lol u sounds stupis (26/04/2014, 13:56) Like (1) Dislike (21) Reply
      oh please.................... those are private buildings government aint had no call lyin to the people tent city.......... they should have told them the truth from the star.t mark knew his plans in moving those people long time the same place where the tents were shops will be their when out their done develop .so the same govt that u want to raise the rent to market rates knows that is the expacts in crafts alive is who vote them behind in. and them better know we can lease our votes too ?????????????????????
    • agreed (26/04/2014, 16:13) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
      They all took the space and knew what the rent was. Now they are not paying without any plausible reason. They should pay or be evicted. No meeting needed. These people are mad. Secondly, why are they stocking their space with so much of the same? They are ridiculous, and ungrateful. Charge them the full rent.
  • Yes (26/04/2014, 12:54) Like (1) Dislike (11) Reply
    i went to visit the lady in the back to see her shop. i asked other shop vendors in the middle section to tell me where her shop is located .and i quit agree it is unfair cause them with big shop ain't making a thing just a whole bunch of china products
  • dog (26/04/2014, 12:56) Like (4) Dislike (16) Reply
    Ndp just love to harass poor people
  • Go (26/04/2014, 15:19) Like (5) Dislike (21) Reply
    the city manager needs to go
  • Str8Nose (26/04/2014, 17:13) Like (32) Dislike (0) Reply
    What meeting to discuss final figure. Pay your damn RENT, to the Wickhams Cay Development Office. Don't let them have to sent ROBOCOP to collect Wickhams Cay Development Money
  • Sandy (27/04/2014, 10:27) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    EVICT THEM ONLY SOME VENDORS DONT WANT TO PAY ANY RENT. is 4 OF THEM IS CAUSING ALL THE CONF USION DOWN THERE, AND WANT THE OTHERS TO FOLLOW THEM WITH THEIR STUPIDNESS .IS GREEDINESS HAVE SOME OF THEM DOWN THERE THEY DONT NEED TO BE THERE THEY AINT GETTING ANY SALES .THEIR JOB IS TO GOSSIP ALL DAY. ITS THEIR CHOICE TO RENT THE SPACE NOBODY CALL THEM. SO WHO THEY BLAMING NOW.
  • islander (29/04/2014, 07:43) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Well sah how come the bvi only have rules and regulations in place for one set of people most of the vendors at craft alive are bvi citizens, why are there no rules in place for them if was islanders alone there we all know they bvi government would have get thier payment promptly and in time because we likes to follow rules and regulations.


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