TEMPERS flared in downtown Kingston yesterday afternoon as the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) continued its drive to stop illegal vending on the streets.

Many angry vendors congregated at Beckford Street, one of the areas declared as a ‘no-vending zone’ by the KSAC. From there, they marched to the KSAC office to speak with the mayor on the matter. When that failed, the vendors attempted to storm Gordon House.

According to the head of the Kingston Central Police, Superintendent Michael Scott, it was difficult at first to bring the situation under control.

“I will ensure the rule of the land, and the road will remain clear until the mayor says it is a vending area,” he told vendors after some order had been restored.

President of the Jamaica Higglers, Vendors and Marketers Association Lionel ‘Dunstan’ Whittingham pleaded with the vendors for a peaceful protest.

“We love dis country, we don’t want nuttin to be done to any one of the vendors down here, and we need to have an understanding where to go from here,” Whittingham told the media.

He said most of the vendors on Beckford Street were good people, but a few were ruining things for the entire bunch. He is trying to set up an urgent meeting with the KSAC to find a solution to the vending issue.

“We’ll be asking them to keep a mass meeting at the Conference Centre, so anybody who wants to take the law into their hands after I done… is on their own,” he stated. Whittingham withheld what exactly the vendors wanted, saying their wants and demands will be voiced at the proposed meeting.

However, one vendor who has been selling on Orange Street for more than 35 years was much more vocal.

“Leggo di road an’ give wi it back because we not coming off,” said Marcia Brown, an accessories vendor.

“We are not leaving di road give dem, wi prefer dead!” she shouted.

Meanwhile, City Inspector Alrick Francis said the corporation has always exercised a participatory approach to such operations. He said the aim of the drive is to restore public order and safety to downtown Kingston.

“What we are aiming to do is to clear the streets so the police can easily police the area to protect shoppers, merchants, as well as the vendors,” explained Francis.