Vendors and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators in the River Road van stand are sick and fed up of water settling in the area after heavy rainfall.
They complained that the water which can settle for long periods, was unhygienic and a threat to members of the public.
Some vendors told Barbados TODAY that they understand it would be difficult to stop water from running into the van stand from the Constitution River because of various factors.
However, they believe it was possible for something to be done to avoid the water from settling and breeding mosquitoes.
Food vendor Devorn Boxill who sells donuts and other baked goodies from a van situated close to the water, complained that the unsanitary conditions were causing her to develop respiratory complications.
“Something has to be done about this. I can’t feel good about this because I selling food here, and other people selling food. I will have to look for something else to do, because this making me sick,” Boxill said.
The owner of Dave’s Takeaway recalled that for many years he has been talking about the problem, which he described as a health risk.
The owner pointed out that over the years the relevant authorities have toured the area and promised to put measures in place to stop the water from settling.
He said he does not believe talking about it would bring about a solution now.
“This is years now we dealing with this. I used to brush it off, but I just get tired of doing that. I complain to this Government when them was in before, then I complain to the other government and them say they would get around to it . . . Look as a poor man you got to live with whatever happen to you,” the owner said.
The vendors said they have made the effort to try to get rid of the water whenever it settles. One vendor said a few years ago he bought a pump to pump off the water, but that equipment has since broken down.
“Since then I went and I buy a blower and that is what I use to blow away some of the water. But the blower only works when the water is low. Man this is beyond ridiculous, and nobody is helping us out with this,” the vendor said.
ZR drivers and conductors told Barbados TODAY that they hoped authorities would step in to make changes to the physical landscape of the van stand, before somebody is badly injured.
“If a pregnant woman comes cross here and she fall down, you know what will happen? Then they would run and try to see how best they could get rid of the water. Sometimes people who come to catch the van does slip and fall down in that dirty water,” one concerned female conductor said.
