By Scieska Adderley
Angry vendors who were upset with an announcement of an increase in rent speak with members of the press. (Photo by Torrell Glinton)
Works Minister Neko Grant dropped a bombshell on scores of straw market vendors yesterday when he announced that they would only be allowed to sell authentic Bahamian products in the new Bay Street Straw Market when it opens.
The announcement sent dozens of irate straw market vendors into a frenzy. Mr. Grant said vendors would therefore be prohibited from selling counterfeit goods. Just recently nine straw vendors were arrested and charged in New York for attempting to traffic counterfeit goods. In the aftermath, many called on the government to prevent vendors from selling knock-off designer bags and items in the market. Minister Grant said the government will only grant licences to Bahamian citizens to operate as vendors. He said the vendors would also be charged rent that is consistent with the improved amenities offered at the facility in the range of $200 to $250 per month or $46 to $58 per week or $6.50 to $8.20 per day.” Mr. Grant made this jaw-dropping announcement during a brief site tour and roof wetting ceremony at the Bay Street Straw Market site. The minister said enforcing these policies and guidelines will contribute to a more effective and efficient management of the new Bay Street market. However, several straw vendors strongly disagreed. One of those vendors is Jerome Clarke who believes that as rent-paying occupants of the multi-million dollar Bay Street Straw Market, they should be allowed to sell a variety of products and not be limited to selling locally made items. “We’ve been allowed to sell what it is that we want to sell. It should be a combination of manufactured and purchased goods. The key to having a successful market is supplying the customers with the goods that they want,” he said. President of the Straw Business Persons Association Esther Thompson told The Bahama Journal that she is concerned about the building’s spacing and has now called on the government to revisit before the straw market before it is complete. “These walls have to come down. I don’t know who these stalls are for. The government has some explaining to do because I have no idea what this is all about,” she said. While the majority of these angry vendors heavily disagreed with the rules laid out by Minister Grant, one vendor, Nyoka Judy Rolle, welcomed the new changes. Ms. Rolle said these changes could provide a major economic boost in the years to come. “We can make it because we’ve done it before. The problem is that there are currently too many options where vendors are selling Fendi, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. The purpose of the straw market is promote the works of Bahamians. We need to keep the money within our local economy, and not focus on purchasing foreign-made products,” she said. Overall the irate vendors say they will not stop until officials address their concerns because they have waited long enough for a new straw market. The original straw market was destroyed by fire on September 4, 2001. The blaze displaced hundreds of vendors and officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. According to the Ministry of Works and Public Transport officials, the $11.2 million Bay Street market is progressing well and is within budget. The new market is expected to be completed sometime in 2011.
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