In March, City councilor in charge of markets Phillip Willoughby went to the Michael Finnegan vendors to propose a solution to re-organize the chaos that still persisted in the market environs - even after the central area was renovated. The compromise was built on the proposal that many of the market vendors would be brought inside the fence - at a minimal cost.
The plan has been progressing smoothly - and street vendors should move by the end of the week. But our news antennae picked up some rumblings of discontent and so Monica Bodden went to the market this morning - where councilor Phillip Willoughby was consulting at a breakneck pace - but we found out that what you see is not always what you get:…
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"Where is the lady? Miss you have a problem to going in the market? You came to fight with me to make sure that you get your spot in the market yesterday?"
Vendor
"It is not me."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"You are not on the media, they are not taping you. Yesterday you came to ask your councilor for you spot inside the market?"
Vendor
"Yes."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"You don't have your spot in the market my friend?"
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"Buddy, you have your spot in the market and you are alright. I just want to make sure I am going through this to prove to you a point."
Monica Bodden Reporting
This was the deputy mayor in action this morning outside the gates of the Michael Finnegan's Market.
If you are wondering just what he was doing?
Well he was trying to find out which one of these vendors told us they were not satisfied with the new move - of relocating from off the canal side into the market ground or on Hiccittee Street.
We understand wholesalers are to move to Hiccattee Street while the retailers are moving inside the market complex.
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"There was the first meeting two months ago in the market, they were the ones who had serious concerns about being along here - taking into the south side alleviation project that would commence shortly in the future that the narrowing of the canal - they would still have to be relocated. With that in mind they have all opted and agreed by a set rate by then of which will be charge for 25 days out of the month - there is 30-31 days in a month. They agreed to pay $10 a day for 25 days and ensuring that the council enforce that the wholesalers does not retail after outside of the legislative hours that wholesalers are to retail, so now I am trying to understand what the problem with the dilemma is that the media is finding?"
Monica Bodden
"But don't you think that walking from stall to stall asking these people is intimidating?"
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"No man these people are Phillip Willoughby friend."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"These media is trying to make bad for us."
Vendor
"I understand."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"They are trying to get between me and you all."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"See this boy is asking me for a stall. You all are playing Channel 7."
But as the deputy mayor made his way a little more down the canal side … the idiom "You never really know your friends from your enemies" came into effect - because those friends he was claiming earlier where not afraid to voice their concerns and dissatisfaction.
Vendor
"I vote for UDP for the two elections - municipal and central but I am getting annoyed with everything that is going on right now."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"What happen this lady is a wholesaler right. The retailers after they purchase from them have a problem that they are compete against them after they already retail to the retailers. Now the wholesalers' hours that they would be able to operate will be from 5 - 1 pm. It will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I mean I am trying to be flexible - I bend over to accommodate everybody and the ones that cannot have their own way - let me tell you - one day Jesus ride into Jerusalem, they put down the palms and crucify him the next day. I don't expect anything different when you are dealing with people and human nature. I can't please and satisfy everybody but I can tell you that at least 99.9% of the people always get satisfaction when they deal with councilor Willoughby. Bottom-line. The only people that are being disgruntled are the ones that can't have their own way. This is a market, this is not a market for retail clothes and apparel, this is market thing this, bottom-line."
Vendor
"Can I ask you something? I don't think all of us can fit on that street there because when this canal is full I know that that street over there is full of water too. Then our things will get wet with that dirty water."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"But remember you would be wholesaling, you would be in a vehicle. You won't be wholesaling off the street."
Vendor
"They don't have space to park the vehicle."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"You know that wholesale got rules and retail got rules. You know who are bringing pressures on the wholesalers - it's the retailers - they are regulating you all and we are enforce what the retailers want because they have already purchase from you all."
Vendor
"Well then you need to force them to buy everything that we bring."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"That is a demand and supply issue."
Vendor
"So the rest of stuff that is left we would throw them away?"
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"No ma'am you said that and not Phillip Willoughby. Then you need just to bring enough to suffice the demand and supply."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"There are rules. There has to be rules. Miss which district you come from?"
Vendor
"Maskall Village."
Phillip Willoughby, Belize City Council
"I am obligated to accommodate everybody from Belize District. Let's say now somebody from another comes, and then the question needs to be asked and discuss with the other municipalities. Why does Belize City have to absorb all the farmers? why not go to respective market to their respective jurisdiction?"
Reporter
"I think the council is trying to control your business - how you all are selling. But what is your other concern in terms of this new move in the market or on Hiccittee Street."
Vendor
"That street is dangerous because there is no electricity. How will be survive in the night. Belize City is problem right now. We don't have any knives or anything. We can't protect ourselves. We want to see on the main street."
The move takes effect over the next 3 days. The vendors will now be paying a rental fee of 10 dollars a day for 25 days in every month - that is equivalent to two hundred and fifty dollars a month.
