Vendors in the West and Pechon streets area of downtown Kingston say they are being unfairly harassed and ill-treated by police from the Island Special Constabulary Force, who patrol the area.

When THE STAR visited the area recently, the vendors all had various 'horror stories' which they were more than eager to share. Most complained about how they were addressed and handled by the lawmen and said, in most instances, they are not treated with respect, but rather verbally abused and, in a few cases, physically.

One fruit vendor, who was licensed to sell in the area, told THE STAR, "Dem nuh have no approach. Dem don't talk to yu decent. All wha day ya one a dem conk mi inna mi head. One next one fire three kick offa mi. Dem tell yu bad word, dem come wid pepper spray and dem bruk dung all yu cart dem. Dem nuh ramp fi tek whe yu goods. Dem come ya wha night and cut dung mi cart, tek mi tings and fling inna di van. Dem not even ask if mi have a box can pack dem up inna. An yu know seh dat a fruit, so dem nuh good again."

Exorbitant fines

Those who sell clothes said when their goods are seized, they are not treated with care and are scattered about. Others claimed that they were not even issued with receipts and sometimes had trouble claiming their goods. The vendors also told THE STAR that in most cases, they were not given summons to attend court, but were rather forced to pay exorbitant fines at the office of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

As THE STAR ventured further along the road and into the arcade, the stories were the same.

One vendor said, "Dem tek di whole a mi load an mi nuh have nuttin fi sell now. One a dem all tek up chair fi lick mi wha day ya and push mi inna mi chest. Mi a big woman an mi diabetic. When dem tek whe yu tings, yu nah get back everything neither. If dem tek whe 30 tings, u lucky if yu get back five. All fi di chrismus, mi nuh have nuttin fi sell. An if yu tings value $1,500, dem a charge yu $3,000."

One vendor told THE STAR that her goods were taken away four times in one day and she was forced to pay to have them returned in all four instances. "So dem deal wid wi out ya, an wi nuh deh pan road. Dem nuh gi yu nuttin fi go a court, dem jus waan terrorise wi. When you show dem yu ID, dem seh wha dat fah?"

No major violent incidents

But while the vendors think they are being poorly treated, Vivian Sawyers, commanding officer in charge of municipal enforcement in the downtown area, said there was no truth to their claims about assault. He said no complaints had been made against them and there have been no major violent incidents.

He said prosecuting the offenders is a "waste of time" as this does not act as deterrent. He told THE STAR that the fines imposed by the KSAC are much heavier than those imposed by the court, and they therefore believe this will be more of a deterrent.

He added, "It would be naive and unreasonable of me to say the police will not talk to them inappropriate at times, but in some cases, they beg for it because they do not cooperate. Even the Bible says a soft answer turneth away wrath. I'll be lenient with them, but sometimes you see them and talk to them, and as you move, they're back on the road again. There's nothing you can do to please these people."

❒