KINGSTON, Jamaica – Vendors on Beckford Street have been given two days to fall in line with directives from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), according to Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby.

“We have had countless consultations on this matter, and we have agreed to certain standards, and some vendors are not holding to their standards,” Swaby complained, adding “I’m watching for the next two days to see if they’ll comply. The police have indicated to them what needs to be corrected, so I’m watching to see.”

The mayor indicated that he would rather have the vendors act in compliance than be forced to shut down the street side marketplace as they prepare for the Christmas rush of shopping.

In contrast the mayor hailed the vendors on Heywood Street for tightening up in time for the season.
Superintendent Beresford Williams, head of the Kingston Central police said the regulations are working well to ease the flow of traffic.

“It is working, we love what we are seeing, if we just fix one or two of the issues that we have observed, we will be very good,” he said.

On Monday, the KSAMC implemented a system, where Heywood Street – heading east to west to Orange Street; West Street – heading south between Spanish Town Road and Beckford Street; Pechon Street – heading south between Spanish Town Road and Darling Street; and Beckford Street – heading west up to Orange Street, will all accommodate only one-way traffic.

The Christmas season usually sees higher volumes of commuters and pedestrians along the area as consumers patronize the markets.