On Saturday morning the streetside vendors on Albert Street had no choice but to relocate to the Battlefield Park. They were forced from the street side to the park as part of the City Council’s downtown revitalization project. They left reluctantly and today – the first working day after the move- we visited them in their new surroundings.
Rodwell Staine, Fruit Vendor
“I think it is better I go sell drugs or it is better you move out of this place because this noh di mek no sense.”
Rodwell Staine says it’s not making sense because the fruits – like these grapes – which he used to sell are now rotting. That is because Staine says that since Saturday when he relocated to this small booth at the Battlefield Park, his sales have dropped dramatically.
Rodwell Staine,
“I came here Saturday and Saturday I didn’t make anything. See the whole half box of grapes that h had there spoiled. This is really ridiculous. I got a box of bananas and I still have the bananas from Saturday right here.”
That’s also the same story next door in the booth occupied by Emma Hoare. She used to sell more than 200 ducunu and tamales a day on Albert Street. Today she didn’t even bring out ducunus and instead had a pot with only 75 tamales and even those weren’t selling.
Emma Hoare, Food Vendor
“It is going slow. From Saturday I haven’t sold the amount I usually sell on Albert Street. I don’t know about today but it looks slow again.”
Keith Swift,
I know you normally have a big pot of tamales but today you have a much smaller one. Why is that?
Emma Hoare,
“Well because I bring less. I want to see if it will finish.”
Keith Swift,
I also see you didn’t bring out ducunus.
Emma Hoare,
“No until tomorrow I will bring some.”
Keith Swift,
Did you expect this would happen?
Emma Hoare,
“No, not like this.”
The same thing in most of the 14 stalls now occupied – that includes jewellers which is strange since the few shoppers we spoke to today were happy that the vendors has been relocated.
Shopper #1,
“I see it as convenient, it is convenient enough. It looks more organized than it looked before.”
Shopper #2,
“I think it gives more space for drivers like myself and the taxi drivers. This way they will have more business and not just throw them on the sidewalks.”
Shopper #3
“I think it is better right on the corner because it is dangerous over that side for them so it is more convenient on this side.”
And even the vendors concede that now that they are gone, downtown Belize City does look a little bit better. For the first time in a long while – pedestrians can now easily and freely walk but the vendors say that appeasing aesthetics has come at a high price.
Rodwell Staine,
“I don’t agree with that at all. So they would rather for you to not make any business and you end up not eating for the street to look good? This is hard. I think they have to go mein. I think we have to vote them out because this doesn’t make any sense at all; no sense at all for us vendors. Watch those people, all of these booths are empty. You think people will come in these?
When I went to the first meeting the Mayor told us that we would have booths where you can lock up your things and bathroom facilities. That is the bathroom which isn’t even finished yet. Then this is a board thing which doesn’t even a place for you to lock up things. They didn’t tell us it would be like that but all of a sudden when the street finished they jammed us here. We didn’t even see her, she hasn’t come out here. She didn’t even have heart to come out here and ask us how the situation out here is.”
But City Councillor Phillip Willoughby did.
Phillip Willoughby, City Councillor
“I am hopeful that the persons who used to visit them will make the necessary adjustments and know that they are still here and it is a win-win situation for all of us- for the pedestrians walking on the sidewalk and for them having their little booths and so forth and less traffic block-ups on the sidewalk.”
It is of note that 27 booths were built but only 14 are occupied. Vendors are charged a monthly fee of $25. The City Council continues to stress that the move is temporary – though they have given no indication as to what will be the permanent solution.
