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