OCHO RIOS, St Ann – Craft vendors at the Dunn’s River Falls and Park Attraction in Ocho Rios, St Ann yesterday called off plans to disrupt activities at the premises but have vowed to try again, unless concerns about a new entrance fee are addressed.

The over 60 vendors at the world-famous venue had planned to block the entrance and prevent visitors from gaining entry.

In addition to long-standing complaints about the 12-foot wall that separates the craft market from the falls and tour guides who discourage visits to the facility, the vendors said they were upset about a new pay-to-shop system which management has put in place.

The visitors, they said, are asked to pay US$10 to enter the attraction and shop at the craft market.

“Some of the visitors don’t want to go to the falls, they just want to visit the craft market and shop and relax,” one angry vendor explained, arguing that the fee now packages the two activities as one and was an inhibitor to their sales.

President of the Dunn’s River Craft Traders’ Association Devon Mitchell said yesterday that 85 per cent of the craft traders had agreed, on Monday, that the only solution was to protest. However a decision was taken yesterday to abort the planned protest after management appealed to vendors to explore all available options.

But some vendors, arguing that their concerns had not been addressed and intent on taking to the streets, yesterday moved their wares from the craft market to the Dunn’s River Falls and Park area. However, they were forced to go back to the craft market only a few minutes later when a team of police personnel arrived on the scene and ordered them off the property.

“We’re going to carry out our demonstration when they least expect it. We’re going to come in like a thief in the night,” one vendor vowed.