THE Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have embarked on a strict enforcement drive to regulate vending and establish order in downtown, Kingston, as the busy Christmas season approaches.

A meeting was held last Friday with stakeholders, including vendors, at the offices of the KSAMC on Church Street, downtown, at which vendors were informed that there will be certain changes in how they operate on the streets going forward.

Inspector David Lowe from the Kingston Central Police Division, said cops have charged more than 20 people in the past 14 days for selling in no-vending zones.

While the drive aims to create a more orderly downtown, commandant of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Police Dwayne Anderson singled out Orange Street as a problematic area.

According to him, even people who have cast ‘good luck spells’ at a specific spot will have to get with the new programme.

“Even if you have customers who are used to you on the right side, or if you squeezed your lime and that was where things were working for you, you still have to come over on the left side [as] we intend to allot vending areas on Orange Street. On your left side going up Orange Street — starting from where Bashco is, all the way to that last store on Orange Street at the intersection with Beckford Street — we are going to avail spots there for people to vend. On the right side there will be no vending tolerated. I see pockets of persons on the right side coming up on Orange Street — you are going to have to come over,” Anderson said.

Further, Inspector Lowe said the more than 20 people who have been prosecuted for operating in no-vending zones were warned before prosecution.

“We told them to seek audience with the municipality and out of that discussion we have come up with a more solid structure, and from that organisation is set, people will fall in place. It will be regularised much better than what is out there presently on the streets. That will aid us in dealing with the criminal activities going on out there.

“In the past two weeks we have prosecuted about 26 vendors for vending in no-vending areas. These people were in breach in various areas. All those who were prosecuted were spoken to prior. They understand that it is not because the police want to prosecute but it is because of non-compliance,” the inspector said.

Meanwhile, some vendors embraced the new measures and believe that greater order will lead to good results for everyone.

Kenesha McCarthy, a vendor on Orange Street, said she received some satisfaction knowing that vendors will be given a designated and permanent spot from which to operate. She shared that she and her colleagues are tired of having to run from the police.

“Things are kind of rough on us now. Downtown is not business as usual because things are slow,” she said, appealing to the authorities to show mercy when they come around.

“I am grateful for what they are going to do. As it is now, it is rough and we are hoping we can do business in a more organised way. As vendors, it is rough for us; we can’t manage the run up and down thing with the police. When we get charged and have to go and pay the fine, it is rough, especially if we don’t sell anything.”

Vendor Tracy-Ann said there many of her colleagues want to cooperate but at the same time there are too many out there creating disorder.

“They do have a point on certain things. We the vendors need to cooperate. If we cooperate, things would be better. Some vendors want to spread out in the walkway and then curse people — those things need to cut out. Each of us needs to stay in line and don’t block the walkway. I want to stop run; I cannot manage the everyday running up and down. I am a single mother of three kids and it is me alone.

“On behalf of me and my co-workers, me a beg you little mercy same way. I want each one of them to cooperate. Please don’t push out any stalls or boxes in the walkway so everybody can eat, walk, and look at things that they want to buy.”