rishard.khan@guardian.co.tt
Vendors plying their trade at the Scarborough Market are calling for better accommodations and procedures during sanitisation exercises.
Speaking outside the Victor E Bruce Financial Complex yesterday, vendors expressed frustration over the current system, which they say requires them to remove all their goods and set up shop outside for the exercises.
“After 18 days of being out here in the sun and rain and we just went back in...four days ago they want to put us out,” vendor Lydia Joseph said.
“They got to understand, we not objecting to cleaning the market. We are asking to find a new way. We have to tote these goods, goods get damaged toting back and forth. It’s very strenuous. Ninety per cent of the market vendors are women.”
In a statement yesterday, the Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development said the market will now undergo sanitisation every week.
“This has been deemed necessary to mitigate health and safety breaches and maintain acceptable standards of cleanliness,” it said.
“Further, the Public Health Department has vested authority in the Marketing Department to inspect goods before receiving them in the facility.
“Recent inspection exercises have exhumed contaminated goods which were consequently denied entry into the facility. There have been cases where vendors have presented with camphor balls among tomatoes and roaches among provisions and other produce, which threatens human health.
“Vendors have been observed using insecticide at their stalls to conceal and contain roaches. As such, the division remains firm in its position in being compliant with the health and safety guidelines of the regulatory agencies.”
Questioned about the vendors’ issue with having to continuously remove goods from the facility, Secretary Nathisha Charles-Pantin referred to the Country Markets Act, which mandates that all unsold goods be removed at the end of the day and stations be thoroughly cleaned.
“The vendors are important and management is trying its best. I am sure an agreement can be reached without breaking the law,” Charles-Pantin said.
