MAYOR SQUEEZES VENDORS The Mayor of Belmopan, in a desperate attempt to make up for City Council’s deficit budget, is attempting to squeeze market vendors by imposing more taxes on them when they re-locate to the new Belmopan open market early next year. These mostly fruit and vegetable vendors who eke out a living in deplorable conditions where they were relocated six months and where they will remain until early next year, have been told by the Mayor that they will have to pay three months’ rent in advance when they return to the renovated market. An herbalist and plants vendor says: “This man is trying to take away ten pounds of my flesh.” The vendors have formally protested to the City Council about its demands for stall rentals at an increased fee to be paid on a quarterly or yearly basis. INSANITORY They have also complained of “unsatisfactory sanitation” and of other poor conditions at the temporary market with inadequate restrooms, a “lack of sanitary procedures” and about the Council’s failure to provide an environment to meet the minimum health standards which by law is its responsibility. Most vendors have also adamantly complained about a decrease in sales and of the indifference of the Mayor with regards to their complaints. In addition to an Annual Trade Licence fee, the Mayor and the City Council have demanded that market vendors pay an annual stall fee of $1,040 in addition to an annual garbage collection fee of $144.00. The City Administrator, with dictates from the Mayor, has written a letter to the vendors saying: “...the Council will no longer be doing daily collection of market rental fees as we are trying to enhance our revenue collection…” This cannot be true. The City Council is operating a deficit budget with 55 percent of it being used to pay its staff and labour force. Out of a budget of $4.28 million, the Council pays out$2.37 million in salaries and wages. This is certainly an unacceptable business model. The Mayor would have been fired from the popular television show “The Apprentice” even before it began. EVERY POUND OF FLESH It is obvious that the Mayor is trying a squeeze every possible pound of flesh from these market vendors while ignoring the bigger picture. The City Council is of itself operating illegally by allowing numerous politically connected businesses and bars to remain open despite their owing thousands of dollars in trade and liquor licences. The Mayor has also failed to address with the World Bank consultants financing for the renovation of the market, the growing demand for market space and the need for the creation of an environment with a cultural ambience. NEW MARKET NOT WELL PLANNED Prior to the re-design of the market there were 115 vendors. The new market will only be able to accommodate seventy-five. The City Council has no encumbrances, or debts for this project. It is being financed through the central government. A quick survey of other municipal markets indicates that the fee the Belmopan City Council wants to impose on vendors at the new market will be way above the national average. The Mayor, at a recent caucus of his City Council has also proposed to provide vendors with “standardized tents to ensure uniformity” at the market. Vendors will be required to pay for the rental of these tents “as a way of improving the revenue stream” says the Mayor who has been unable to collect almost a million dollars in property taxes. Vendors perceive that the Mayor is trying to take advantage of them as they are the most vulnerable of tax payers and the lowest source of income for the City Council which seems incapable of managing its own affairs without persistent hand-outs including yet another $150 thousand (hardly adequate) for the repairs of the City’s crumbling streets. Much more is needed to address the general neglect of the nation’s capital by the current Mayor and the City Council. They are not cutting it. (END) Norris Hall 27th November 2013 Please share.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:44:56 +0000
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