Dear Editor,
Based on the number of sellers on the roads in downtown Kingston, it is obvious that the Jamaican people are willing to earn an honest bread but do not have enough capital to either build their own or rent shops.
Additionally, even if these sellers want to rent, there is not enough shops for rent. In fact, assuming that all the available shops are occupied, then the people in the street selling would represent the number of additional shops needed to deal with the demand.
Additionally, even if these sellers want to rent, there is not enough shops for rent. In fact, assuming that all the available shops are occupied, then the people in the street selling would represent the number of additional shops needed to deal with the demand.
Based on the economic situation in the country today, we cannot send these people home to do nothing, these sellers have to use the income from these activities to send their children to school and to support their families.
Jamaica belongs to all of us and, therefore, a way must be found to accommodate people who are willing to earn an honest bread. Vending in Jamaica is a major source of income for the poor, it is a business that these people know and can handle, so, why are we not looking for ways to enhance and formalise these activities.
I am inviting the mayor of Kingston to find a creative way to assist these people. For example, one way of fixing this is to close some of the minor roads in downtown Kingston and convert a significant area into a shopping zone for the people to sell. There are too many roads and lanes downtown that can be better utilised rather than reserving them for vehicles. With a little planning, this could be designed into a large enough outdoor shopping area with documented rules and regulations. With good planning and design, this could be a major shopping zone and could be the basis for a major transformation of small business activities in the island. If you stretch this pedestrian/outdoor shopping precinct up to the underutilised bus park downtown, then you could better utilise the space and take the buses off these secondary roads.
Carlton Fearon
Mandeville
Roadside sellers need space
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Based on the number of sellers on the roads in downtown Kingston, it is obvious that the Jamaican people are willing to earn an honest bread but do not have enough capital to either build their own or rent shops.
Additionally, even if these sellers want to rent, there is not enough shops for rent. In fact, assuming that all the available shops are occupied, then the people in the street selling would represent the number of additional shops needed to deal with the demand.
Additionally, even if these sellers want to rent, there is not enough shops for rent. In fact, assuming that all the available shops are occupied, then the people in the street selling would represent the number of additional shops needed to deal with the demand.
Based on the economic situation in the country today, we cannot send these people home to do nothing, these sellers have to use the income from these activities to send their children to school and to support their families.
Jamaica belongs to all of us and, therefore, a way must be found to accommodate people who are willing to earn an honest bread. Vending in Jamaica is a major source of income for the poor, it is a business that these people know and can handle, so, why are we not looking for ways to enhance and formalise these activities.
I am inviting the mayor of Kingston to find a creative way to assist these people. For example, one way of fixing this is to close some of the minor roads in downtown Kingston and convert a significant area into a shopping zone for the people to sell. There are too many roads and lanes downtown that can be better utilised rather than reserving them for vehicles. With a little planning, this could be designed into a large enough outdoor shopping area with documented rules and regulations. With good planning and design, this could be a major shopping zone and could be the basis for a major transformation of small business activities in the island. If you stretch this pedestrian/outdoor shopping precinct up to the underutilised bus park downtown, then you could better utilise the space and take the buses off these secondary roads.
Carlton Fearon
Mandeville
Roadside sellers need space
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