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Cruel NDP Government? Chases the 'Little man' from RT Roundabout

- Pushes out Vendors from selling @ Road Town Roundabout
Vendors at the Road Town Roundabout have been stopped from plying their trade at the said location. Photo: VINO
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr Anthony S. McMaster said his Ministry, along with the Office of the City Manager, has become 'increasingly concerned about the manner in which vending is taking place throughout Road Town and are reconsidering locations for these vendors to carry out business.' Photo: VINO/File
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr Anthony S. McMaster said his Ministry, along with the Office of the City Manager, has become 'increasingly concerned about the manner in which vending is taking place throughout Road Town and are reconsidering locations for these vendors to carry out business.' Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Is the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government of Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) cruel to the poor or the 'Little man' in the country?

The administration has forced out vendors plying their trade near Sol Gas Station at the roundabout in Road Town. They were ousted and must cease all operations at the site from yesterday July 10, 2017.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mr Anthony S. McMaster said his Ministry, along with the Office of the City Manager, have become “increasingly concerned about the manner in which vending is taking place throughout Road Town and are reconsidering locations for these vendors to carry out business.”

Vendors are earning an honest living

Many of the vendors there have legal status; some being locals, Belongers, residents and others are from other Caribbean islands, living in the Virgin Islands for a number of years. At least they are “earning an honest living," according to many critics of the government’s move.

The vendors sell local fruits, produce, coconut water and during special holidays like Valentine’s Day; they sell flowers and other items associated with the season.  

Mr McMaster, in a Government Information Service statement said, “After completing a thorough review, a decision has been made to immediately cease vending in specific areas which we consider to have a negative impact in Road Town.”

Many have said the pushing out of the vendors without providing an immediate alternative is in keeping with the disregard for the poor in the country; a signature of the NDP regime.

Clean up the town-ruling class

Others who supported the move claims it's about the image of Road Town and keeping order in the capital, as the upper class in the country sees it as unsightly.

Janet Williams of Spy Glass Hill on the western side of Tortola, told our newsroom, “a set of people with a promise of an airline can get over seven million dollars. They do not look like the people they are moving from vending, but the people who live in the country and play by the rules are forced out from making a living...this is another clear example of injustice to the poor and the less fortunate from a heartless administration.”

47 Responses to “Cruel NDP Government? Chases the 'Little man' from RT Roundabout”

  • jah (11/07/2017, 13:01) Like (20) Dislike (0) Reply
    Pls rules and regulations must adhere to however the authorities should find a place for them to do sell
    • Really??? (11/07/2017, 14:40) Like (68) Dislike (5) Reply
      The Road Town Market Place is still there and no one uses it. They need to get from around the roundabout and stop causing a mess to the traffic and causing the town to look so damn ghetto!!!!!!!! Make them move, they need to use the market!!!!!
  • foy (11/07/2017, 13:18) Like (7) Dislike (30) Reply
    AYO TEK DAT 4 VOTING NDP
  • lil man (11/07/2017, 13:20) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about STONES, NITO'S, CLIVE, PANCHIES, BARBA and the rest of the food vans that take up valuable parking spaces??????
    • vendor (11/07/2017, 14:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Wha bout chappy boy, big train, trouble and dario's???
      • @Vendor (11/07/2017, 18:25) Like (21) Dislike (4) Reply
        Those vendors have permission. The others who taking up the round about don't. As for those under the tents in the market square..a bunch of nastyy good for nothing..They mess up the area with coconuts and the likes of and don't clean up. They need remove those tents an make them use the market building. If that's what they do in their country they must understand it will not be tolerated here in the BVI. They are giving a chance to make money but they have no self pride and o national pride because in their minds this is not their home land.
  • Yes (11/07/2017, 13:21) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    I remember how they almost killed the esteemed one for pruning that same june plum tree
  • chase them outta town (11/07/2017, 13:23) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
    First it was the men under the afro tree, spanish man them by the gas station, crab lot ghetto and now the vendors
  • native (11/07/2017, 13:25) Like (28) Dislike (13) Reply
    These island people travel with their bad habits every where they go
  • DON Q (11/07/2017, 13:29) Like (2) Dislike (9) Reply
    Free my people
  • chad (11/07/2017, 13:31) Like (8) Dislike (29) Reply
    This is ethnic cleansing they don't want their rich white friends see poor black people making an honest living in our country so here what we will do forget the honest law abiding things we will what they were trying to do last night and I Gurantee they would not say one word like they have been doing you thief government money and u get promoted that's the norm around here
    • nonsense (11/07/2017, 15:23) Like (28) Dislike (1) Reply

      Whether you're white, black or yellow, one must be completely disgusted when looking at how they have that place. No pride, no vision and not a care in the world. Keep it up.

    • Crusader (11/07/2017, 20:50) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      These are enlightened times. So it is not important what "white people" alone think. We must purge ourselves of this mindset.

      What is important is what YOU think about this lawlessness and nastiness.
  • Hmm (11/07/2017, 14:01) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
    stchuppppzzzzzz to the headline
    Which ever government it is does no matter. If Tom Dick and Harry have to pay rent, light bill, water and put sanitary measures in place to do business, SO SHOULD VENDORS especially the Big Time ones.

    Let people with small time ventures vend to feel out their market THEN let them pay rent once they reach a certain size. Anything more than a small table or tray of unusual goods belongs in a shop.
    NO TO PERMANENT BIG TIME OPERATIONS VENDORS
  • island man (11/07/2017, 14:15) Like (35) Dislike (6) Reply
    I praise the government for taking this necessary action. I have seen the recklessness with venders throughout the Caribbean and I was frightened the BVI city and suburbs will look like a Haitian roadside market. Thanks for taking action before its to late.
    The BVI was getting ugly
    However I will advice we get a bigger market or markets in different locations.
    • who to blame (12/07/2017, 13:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Well said island man..the place looks so nasty and getto
      Hate to be in town passing by and all the nasty vendors
      makes me sick..
  • hm (11/07/2017, 14:27) Like (9) Dislike (12) Reply
    nothing is wrong with the idea of cleaning up the town.... but if they are being forced, the government could have atleast give them somewhere else to sell their produce
    • FYI (11/07/2017, 14:52) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
      That what the market was built for
    • OK BUT!!! (11/07/2017, 15:40) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      The Road Town Market Place is still there not being used so they have no reason to be at the roundabout...
    • june (11/07/2017, 15:42) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
      The market place is there. They can use it. They did not have government's permission to be in that spot in the first place so why is government such a monster for asking them to leave?
  • Rules 2 (11/07/2017, 15:06) Like (35) Dislike (0) Reply
    I applaud the Government we cannot allow another tent city in town. Let them go into the market. Ever since Ralph Oneal when he was Deputy Chief minister left the ministry of Health, Tortola has gotten nasty. We have to set high standard and let those who are here follow them.
  • Logic (11/07/2017, 15:10) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with the Government on this one. I see no reason to bring politics into this. Rules are rules. The market where all of the other vendors sell their products was built for that specific purpose. Let them relocate there.
  • 911 (11/07/2017, 15:39) Like (13) Dislike (8) Reply
    They want everybody to steal government money like them the ndp is a set of oppresors
  • DAM (11/07/2017, 15:56) Like (0) Dislike (14) Reply
    No love for the locals at all
  • That's all (11/07/2017, 16:40) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    spruce up the area with flowers and a few park benches so they cant do business there
  • Just saying (11/07/2017, 18:04) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    The poor suck salt everywhere
  • Head turner (11/07/2017, 18:04) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    Millions dem wasting and government workers not seeing any and then don't want people to speak out hmmmm
  • fun (11/07/2017, 19:05) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is an eye sore to see how nasty the place is kept during the time they occupied the area. It is a disgrace!!!! And to much people there selling the same imported stuff!!
  • tola (11/07/2017, 19:36) Like (4) Dislike (10) Reply
    The government prefer U doing crime than making a honest dollar
  • facts man (11/07/2017, 20:10) Like (5) Dislike (6) Reply
    VINO is my hero, they tell it like it is
  • Rebel (11/07/2017, 20:16) Like (0) Dislike (5) Reply
    The government is first of all a ILLEGAL government operating here in what they call the bvi. The kill and murdered the indigenous people and take over the land force black ppl to work it for free and now they direct these house slaves to keep the poor down by any means.
  • More about safety (11/07/2017, 20:36) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Those vendors created a safety hazard encouraging vehicles to cross the roundabout to park and then reversing into the roundabout to leave.

    The vendors should have been removed from there a long time ago.
  • tola (11/07/2017, 20:38) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    When the government work park up in the market where these people's will go when NDP give all them domican people all the market for them self we our local will go
  • Scary Freddy (11/07/2017, 22:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hello, National Democratic Party. Is THIS finally enough for you? Or is power and party far and away more important than country?
  • ????? (11/07/2017, 22:25) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    how about those that walk up and down selling cupcakes, peanuts and the children on the streets selling water??
  • agreed (11/07/2017, 22:53) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    That place looks nasty. Get rid of it. They ruin it for themselves by making it look like a third world ghetto.
  • xc (12/07/2017, 08:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look how the government remove locals from the market then give it to the drugimporting dominicans and vincentians to bring in their stuff through customs under disguise . We know which ministers are benefitting from this endeavor. Open the bags the boxes and cut open the pumpkins and see what is uncovered.. even fish coming in and they lable everything local and organic. But the truth is our government in it too.
  • peace (13/07/2017, 09:32) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Law and order must prevail. This is long overdue. Besides closer scrutiny of vendor applications needed!
  • JYD (13/07/2017, 13:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    That a start now to see the health minister get the environment officers to step up their jobs and go and cheek out these places that cooks food for the public to ensure that their place are clean tidy and up to the Health and safety standards eg temp for cold storage foods, salads and drinks, the hot oils and foods are not 2- 3 or more days old the people who serving foods are not the same handling the money all persons have a health certificate their heads cover so no hair be in people food ,and there storage of garbage be of a high standard as to prevent rats roaches this will lift up the standards of the eating places especially the out door canteens and vans areas.
  • ccc (13/07/2017, 23:43) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    No, thank you, they needed to be gone long time
  • Dr Dre (14/07/2017, 22:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dem does fiddle while Rome a bun


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