San Fernando vendor Sandra Sultan was advised on Friday to do the right thing and work for herself instead of working to pay the State for illegal vending. Sultan, 38, was given the advice when she appeared before San Fernando Fifth Court Magistrate Taramattie Ramdass for the August 17, offences. She was among six vendors ordered to pay a total of $3,500 in fines for selling without a license from the San Fernando City Corporation, unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction of the free passageway. The vendors were arrested by City Police officers Mc Alpine, Deena, Burnett and Williams. Ramdass, in passing sentence on Sultan, who was held with ladies clothing, said, "Every time they charge you I have to increase the fine. You have to decide if you want to work for yourself or pay the State.
Once you are selling on High Street, or any street, you will be working to pay the State." Sultan, who said she had no convictions, was fined $300 or 30 days simple imprisonment for selling without a license and $150 or 15 days each for unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction. She was given four weeks to pay the fines. Sarah Sooklal, who was arrested for selling ladies tops, was fined $300 or 30 days simple imprisonment for selling without a licence and $150 or 15 days each for unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction. She was given four weeks to pay the fines. Surajdaye Ram, 53, who was held selling women's tops and leggings, was placed on a $1,500 bond to keep the peace for one year for her three charges.
Vendor Navendra Ramlal, who was arrested for selling sunglasses, was fined $300 or 30 days simple imprisonment for selling without a license and $150 or 15 days each for unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction. He was given seven days to pay the fines. DVD vendor Kalvin Layne was slapped with a $400 fine for selling pirated movies. Ramdass told Layne he was "lucky" the officers did not charge him under the Copyright Act since his fine would have run into the thousands. "You are different from the others," he said. She told Layne his fine was higher because of his goods. He was fined $400 or 30 days simple imprisonment for selling without a license.
Layne was also fined $150 or 15 days each for unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction. He was given four weeks to pay the fines. While Ramdass ordered officers to return all the vendors' goods, the magistrate ordered that Layne's pirated DVDs be destroyed. Vendor Ashmead Haniff was fined $200 or 30 days simple imprisonment for also selling without a license and $150 or 15 days each for unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction. He has four weeks to pay the fines. Rooplal Sinanan, another vendor, was ordered to pay $300 or 30 days simple imprisonment for selling without a license and $150 or 15 days each for unlawfully pitching a stall and obstruction. He was given seven days to pay.