Vendors in street brawl

A cutlass attack on a group of vendors on Mucurapo Street, San Fernando on Saturday October 1 left passers-by scampering for safety and business people rushing to close their doors against the unruly crowd. One person had to be treated at hospital. 

According to police reports at about 5.30 pm Saturday, a well-known CD and DVD vendor began arguing with another vendor accusing him of encroaching on his turf on Mucurapo Street. As the quarrel escalated, the vendor and one of his associates pulled out two cutlasses and began brandishing them at the man he had earlier accused of occupying part of his space.

As the man began firing chops, other vendors joined in the fracas, sending frightened passers-by running for cover and worried business owners hurrying to close their doors for fear of being attacked. Store owners along Mucurapo Street said that for years they have complained about the vendors in front their store. They say the attacker is a nuisance who is in the habit of playing music very loudly all day and night so much so that a doctor who has his private practice on the street is at pains to hear his patients.

The business people who spoke on condition of anonymity say they are powerless against the man as he is very violent and boasts that he is a friend of the police. In fact, they say when they call both the City Police and the San Fernando Police they seldom come. The police reportedly took more than 20 minutes to arrive on the scene, giving the attackers ample time to brandish their cutlasses and threaten the rival group of DVD vendors. Newsday was in time to see a bottle striking a vendor in his face as the fracas intensified.

When police arrived on the scene, they were forced to call for back-up but the attackers were eventually disarmed and taken to the police station. 

One person was taken to the hospital.

Street vending in San Fernando has been a source of contention over the years, so much so that about three months ago, a San Fernando magistrate summoned Mayor Marlene Coudray, and the CEO Deodath Ragoobar of the San Fernando City Corporation to court. The magistrate had instructed them to clear the streets of all vendors, telling them that by doing so the police will be free to attend to other matters. To date, High Street and Mucurapo Street, the two major thoroughfares remain crowded with vendors. Responding to news of the fracas, Coudray reminded that street vending is illegal in San Fernando.  

She said some vendors were issued with licenses but they have since expired. Coudray said that she met recently with vendors, taxi drivers, and members of traffic management of the Ministry of Works to discuss the crowding in the city and a decision was taken to reinstate the taxi stand on Mucurapo Street, and the area where the vendors currently occupy will revert to a taxi stand. The mayor, meanwhile, is calling n the police to monitor the situation and pay close attention to what is happening.