With tears in her eyes, street vendor Helen Harry packed up her fruits from her makeshift stall after San Fernando City Corporation police ordered her to evacuate. Harry, who had been selling on a road reserve along the Gulf View Link Road for more than six years, said she did not know what to do.
Pointing to boxes of apples, mangoes, paw paw and bananas which she said were left over from the Christmas season, Harry explained that San Fernando mayor Marlene Coudray met with vendors and was preparing a place in Marabella for them to sell. "I am trying to sell out the fruits now before they spoil. Look at how much apples already spoil," Harry said, pulling out a box from behind a tray.
She explained she would have no choice but to stay at home and watch her fruits rot. Harry said she was willing to pay for a spot to sell on the Link Road since she was concerned about the losses she would suffer if her goods decayed. She explained: "I am willing to move to Marabella but if I wait to sell until then all the goods will spoil." Police officers from the corporation said they would continue to monitor illegal vending in the city. They said they were continuing to make patrols to ensure all vendors were removed.