The Jamaica Star :: News :: Half-Way Tree: A vending mecca

As the authorities move to rid downtown Kingston of illegal vendors, the streets of Half-Way Tree are now buzzing with vending of every kind.

The street adjacent to the new transportation centre is alive with activity regardless of the hour, and vendors have found creative ways to display their wares by the side of the road. Some sections of Nelson Mandela Park have essentially been transformed into a shopping centre, with vendors offering every type of goods imaginable.

Difficulty walking

Walking along the already-narrow corridors has become even more difficult with pedestrians being forced to carefully make their way on the narrow strip of pavement that is left. In some cases, stepping out into the road is the only way to avoid walking into stalls or goods laid out on display.

Deputy Superintendent (DSP) McArthur Sutherland, officer in charge of crime at the St Andrew Central Division, told THE STAR that the growing number of vendors was a major issue.

The challenge, however, is that quite a number of the vendors are licensed to operate and are able to present identification cards. His concern, however, was the fact that they do not seem to have any set operating hours.

He told THE STAR, " Anytime you go out there, they're all gathered out there and because of that you have an influx of people into the Half-Way Tree nightlife. We now have to be extremely vigilant."

Increased police patrols

He said patrols in the area, both foot and mobile, have intensified and added that several teams, both uniformed and those dressed in plain clothes, are deployed to the area daily.

DSP Sutherland also expressed concern at the increase in the number of robberies in the division and said this, in many ways, had to do with the fact that the area was very commercial. He said, "The vending in the Half-Way Tree square brings all sorts of criminals who hang around the stalls.

"You have more robberies, more illegal taxis and we now have to be pumping additional resources into the area." He also revealed that an illegal weapon was recently seized in Clocktower Plaza after one man was seen handing a package to another.

He said the Half-Way Tree area was a difficult one to police with mobile patrols because of the heavy traffic, and said foot patrols would be used to reassure and comfort shoppers.