A nation of sellers
PEEPING TOM
Kaieteur News
July 12, 2004
One of the best things that ever happened for business in this country was the decision of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown to remove the vendors off of the pavement. It not only boosted established business but also enabled more money to be circulated, promoted better competition with benefits to all concerned, including those who were formerly on the pavement and who were forced to either move elsewhere or find alternative means of income.
The lesson of that experience is that when legitimate businesses do well, the welfare of consumers and vendors are improved. This is a lesson that those who formerly set up shop outside the businesses of legitimate storeowners should note. When the business climate improves, everyone benefits.
There was a time when some vendors sat all day under their makeshift tents on Regent Street, in the hope of making a $1000. If you looked at the stocks they had, the daily costs of transporting that stuff, it makes no business sense to be investing so much money for a very residual return.
What the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown did by removing the pavement vendors was to force many of them to make a shift in employment. I recall at the time, there were all kinds of crying about what would happen to the poor vendors. Those who were single- parent moms were quick to ask what was to become of them. There were even predictions of a dramatic increase in poverty and social disorder.
That never materialized and it would be interesting to learn how those vendors who were once on Regent Street have moved on with their life. I am sure that the vast majority are doing better than they were when they were on the pave. The drastic decision of the City Council forced the vendors to seek alternatives.
In as much as there would have been disruptions when the City Council decided to ensure that their pavements are not encumbered, these shocks sometimes work out in the long- run to the best interest of the country.
In the case of sugar, the recent proposal floated by the EU to reform their sugar regime has sent shockwaves throughout the sugar producing islands of the Caribbean, but it will have the effect of being a wake –up call and Guyana will now be forced to move faster to modernize and restructure the sugar industry.
All the reservations that were previously holding us back from making the hard decisions will now have to be set aside. The hard choices will soon have to be made if we are to survive.
Not being willing to make the hard choices has been one of the reasons for the problems we have found ourselves in. Sometimes we let a problem fester, delaying the hard choices because of fear of reaction, and it is only when the situation is irreversible that we seem to want to act. Numerous examples of this can be pointed out in Guyana.
And so in as much as I respect the right of all citizens to make a dollar, I have never ever supported illegal vending because I do not believe that vending as is done in Guyana on a small scale, can lift vendors out of poverty.
Selling on the pavement cannot be a viable long-term option for any person interested in a proper livelihood. Unfortunately, what happens is that vendors never really grow out of vending and as such become permanent hucksters, selling on the streets.
The vending problem therefore has to be addressed other than simply from the angle of finding a place for persons to vend their wares. These hucksters need to grow out of their present predicament and this can only happen if they set their sights beyond the daily grind of their work and at least consider alternatives for the future.
At one time, Water Street was congested with vendors. Today, you can drive through freely and obtain parking, at least outside of peak hours. But I have noticed that some vendors are using innovative ways to sell their wares.
On Company Path for example, are persons selling out of parked vehicles. In one case a man was selling out of a bus. I wonder whether he did not consider it more feasible for him to put that vehicle in hire. I am sure that he would make more than what he earns presently from trying to sell a few pieces of clothing each day.
Technically, he may be within the law by selling from a parked vehicle. But should the city be allowing this? I am sure if I were to call for the City Council to put an end to this type of activity, there would be a great public outcry. But was there not a similar outcry when the City Council decided to move against the pavement vendors?
And we all know how things improved after that initial hiatus.
What troubles me about vending is how pervasive it has become and how rapidly it is spreading throughout the villages and towns of the country. A problem is festering and it will have long-term effects on our country.
The rapid spread of vending is symptomatic of a deeper problem and unless we begin to address this problem immediately, we may never be able to reverse the downslide.
All over this country, especially in many of the new housing areas, shops and stalls are springing up. Outside of most markets especially in rural areas, there is vendor sprawl. This country is fast becoming a nation of sellers.