New bill grants ‘right to vend’, says BARVEN head

President of the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) Alistair Alexander has welcomed the proposals in the National Vending Bill, suggesting it establishes a right to vend

Alexander, who was present when Minister of Entrepreneurship Kerrie Symmonds laid the Bill in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, told Barbados TODAY that the “humble” members of the vending community have been waiting a long time for a moment like this.

He said for too many years, vendors have been fighting for rights and to stop being treated as second class citizens.

Alexander said: “Our Government has done our heritage proud. BARVEN has said over and over that democracy without vision is a people going nowhere. This Bill not only gives unprecedented rights to vendors, but gives power to a national vending policy that will transform this sector, and lead it to full development.

“We thank the sacrificial resistance of our fore parents for putting that inspirational spirit in this struggle. We thank our leading indicators, historians Trevor Marshall and Sir Hilary Beckles for teaching us and bringing the importance of the vending sector to national consciousness. We thank [Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM] David Comissiong for the legal and intellectual mind he has brought to the development of this sector.”

Symmonds noted that according to the proposed bill, the days when police remove vendors from the streets of Bridgetown will come to an end. Symmonds said vendors will be given a 30-day period of notice before the imposition of an eviction can be made.

The minister also announced that for the first time in over 300 years, vending without a licence will not be treated as a criminal offence, and indicated that those caught engaging in the act will be asked to pay an administrative penalty.

Alexander gave his assurance that vendors would welcome this “bill of rights”. The BARVEN president said the existing laws that currently govern vending, are focused on controlling vendors and not developing the sector.

He said: “We welcome now that we have a bill of rights and we have a vending policy that will speak now to accommodation and we give thanks for that development. We are heritage icons and national treasures and therefore it is long overdue that they are now given their rightful place in the economic landscape of Barbados.

While Symmonds also announced that a committee will be established to review the contents of the National Vending Bill, Alexander said he has not yet been given notice, but said that BARVEN welcomed the opportunity to be a part of the process. (AH)