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Craft vendors along South Avenue have been left confused and uncertain about their next move after their goods were seized by police working with the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAC) and a request made for them to leave the area.

Our Today spoke with ‘Brown Man’, a vendor in the area who shared that the incident took place on Thursday (November 3).

“We just did deh here a sit down and the van drive up and just start take up the goods them. We asked them why and them say this is a ‘no vending’ area and we fi come downtown and collect them back,” Brown Man recalled.

He was charged $6,000 for everything taken, but said he was left confused about why the goods were seized in the first place.

According to him, he and the other vendors in the area have been allowed to sell their goods on the street side for many years.

While speaking with Lloyd and Kemar Joseph, a father and son who sell their handcrafted goods on the stretch, they shared that they have been in the area for more than 30 years.

“We usually put items on the other side a the road but them tell wi just put everything one side and keep it to the wall so people can pass,” shared Kemar.

According to Kemar, the vendors complied and were then asked to pay a fee during the holiday season to use the area. That process started in 2020.

“Whenever it come on to November and December, them always come out and you have to pay. Every week you have to pay until the season run off,” said Kemar.

He said each vendor is usually asked to pay between $1000 – $3,000 a week, after which they are given a receipt.

Lloyd said he was told by the police that this was a legitimate transaction.

“Mi seh to dem ‘mine a forgery thing’ and them seh ‘no, wi a police’. So mi give them $1,000 and them give me a receipt,” said Lloyd.

But that was not the case this year.

“Dem come yesterday and him say mi nav nuh receipt from them for 2022 so them take weh the goods. But mi nuh know weh fi go and get it,” said Lloyd.

“Dem normally just drive here give it to me and gone again, so mi did a wait fi dem just come back again this year and do di same thing.”

He and his son believe the reason it did not happen this year was because the police wanted more money.

Usually, when their goods are confiscated, vendors have to pay according to amount of items taken, said Kemar.

“If them come and tek weh deh yah now them ago charge you all a $5,000. ‘Cause yesterday a dem here them take and charge mi $5,000 fi get back and that nuh fair.”

He added that, when he went to pay and collect the items, he did not receive one of his ironing boards which he prices at $8,000.

“When them come yah and tek weh the goods you nah see them when yuh go fi collect. A different people a talk to you and them nuh inna nuh talking so you just affi tek weh them give yuh back,” said Kemar.

Brown Man shared that he was also asked to leave the area he has occupied for more than 30 years.

“This ago impact we a lot because we have we regular customers who ago pass and nuh see we. A few might have my number to call, but otherwise we gonna lose sale.”

He noted that this is his only source of income and that he is unsure what his next step will be.

Both Lloyd and Kemar are still on the stretch, but Brown Man is hesitant to return.

“There is nothing more I have to bring in money and mi nuh wah put them back out ’cause I don’t have another $6,000 to pay. I had to pay $6,000 yesterday to get back my goods” said Brown Man.

Now he is trying to get a space in a nearby arcade, hopeful that his attempt will be successful.

Our Today attempted to contact representatives from the KSAC for a comment on the matter but calls went unanswered.

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