Two weeks ago they were rounded up by police and detained for hours because they didn't pay their $25 licensing fee to the City Council. The next day City Councilor Marshall Nunez personally apologized to the hair braiders and assured them that he would address the situation. Well two weeks later, and with the start of the high season out at the village, not much has changed. While they haven't been detained by the police, the hair braiders say not much else has changed. So, once again they called on the 7NEWS team to get some justice.
Keith Swift Reporting, [keithkswift@gmail.com]
It was business as usual today at the tourist village for vendors, taxi men, pan handlers, and for just about everyone who makes a living out here- everyone except these hair braiders.
Dedra Avilez, Hair Braider
"We really frustrated because when we come out of our house at 7 o'clock to work, because this is a job and we have kids, and when we come then they want to be pushing us around and the first thing they always tell us is that if we don't come behind the barrier they will take us to the pisshouse. Everyday they say they will take us to the pisshouse and we come out here to work and that is not right."
What the hair braiders say isn't right is that they are not being allowed inside the gates - which is the difference between making a buck or watching someone else make it.
Simona Bacab, Hair Braider
"When we come out here we still aren't seeing any head way because the policemen are pressuring us. They want a license and we have no license so when we move forward they put us back. When we called the City Council and went there the lady says she doesn't know anything about any money, any shelter, and no promises."
Keith Swift,
So what is it you guys want?
Simona Bacab,
"We want Mr. Marshall and Mr. Mahler to give us in writing how we are supposed to get a license which he promised to pay for us for two months, we want our t-shirts, and we want to have it in writing so that we can always go in and get our hair and come out back. Everyday its harassment and we want him to do that for us because we are tired of hearing talking from Mr. Marshall and we are not making any money and they want us to pay $25 monthly and we aren't making $25. Sometimes we come out here and we don't even make one cent."
Keith Swift,
What is the difference between working out here and in there?
Simona Yacab,
"Because normally when you go back there, the people are going on tours on the bus and you can always put in your order and talk to them and give them your name and then they can come back and check with you but sometimes when we go there we don't even get to go the bus because they chase you back."
And the man who made those promises is city councilor Marshall Nunez who came out today to take the heat, face first.
Marshall Nunez,
"We had arranged for somebody to take care of the payment for them for the last couple of months and they were to be given their receipts and they don't have their receipts so the police are saying that if they can't show the receipts they can't go in. They are working on the receipts right now and the receipts will be here in the next ten or fifteen minutes to facilitate that and to avoid that confrontation with the police."
Keith Swift,
They say a receipt is not enough, they want to be able to go beyond the barrier because out here they are not making any money..
Marshall Nunez,
"I don't control the activities out here but we can facilitate the process for them. If they must show some evidence of payment to go in, then we will facilitate that and we ill ensure that they have the receipt. Once they have the receipt that should be an easier process along with the police."
Despite his assurance that the braiders would get their receipts today when we checked back this evening that had not happened. The hair braiders were told that they will get the receipts tomorrow afternoon when they meet with representatives from the City Council, Tourism Police Unit, and Tourism Board.
