I am spurred to respond to the recent developments in the food vending issue around the Savannah, the latest being the complete cessation of the activity. I am of the opinion that more options could have been visited, such as more dialogue and practical solutions, and less highhandedness.
The mayor has put forward the claim of rat infestation, which I totally reject because rats generally do not proliferate in such areas and more so, because no one has been able to produce a single rodent as evidence. The mayor has offered his sympathy and understanding of the vendors’ plight, but I don’t think they believe he is being genuine in this regard.
It may be that the mayor and PoS City Corporation have a problem with the manner in which the vendors arrived there in the first place, without their consent. It’s just possible that the vendors may be caught in the crossfire between the Ministry of Agriculture and the City and hence become the casualties of war.
If the City had a problem with the lack of running water and toilet facilities at the venue, then they should have shouldered that responsibility to provide same, in the national interest. The City would have become more visitor-friendly which would have been beneficial to our local people.
My point is, the situation could have been handled differently without running the risk of open and adversarial confrontation, in which the law enforcement agencies might have to play a part. Great responsibility means not using all the powers that you are invested with in the name of compassion and human understanding, but acting with restraint and wisdom, keeping in mind the bigger picture.
Why do we, as a people, sometimes turn down opportunities to progress alongside global trends that benefit all stakeholders. All cities of the world have areas set aside for every type of activity and nobody in authority makes it their purpose in life to make others miserable.
Come on, let’s have a change in attitude. San Fernando has made great strides in this regard, with its row of night vendors south of Skinner Park. No one has sought to close them down for lack of running water and toilet facilities. Problems are only problems if you don’t overcome them.
Joel Quintal,
San Fernando