Illegal vending, clogging of streets by PPV operators targetted
The St Ann police have started action to bring order to the streets of three of the major towns in the parish – St Ann’s Bay, Ocho Rios and Brown’s Town.
Last week police were seen in St Ann’s Bay, the St Ann capital, removing vendors and issuing warnings to others to keep the sidewalks clear. Several vendors without permits and operating illegally were issued with tickets.
Also ticketed in the police drive were several motorists, especially taxi operators, illegally using the streets as pick-up and drop-off points.
(This story is also reported on North Coast Times YouTube Channel Newscast #19)
Senior Superintendent of Police Dwight Powell told North Coast Times that the police were determined to get some order to the streets of the major towns. He said the disorder, congestion of the main streets, and lack of access to the sidewalks were a hindrance to police crime-fighting efforts.
“We are going ahead without the [St Ann] Municipal Corporation,” SSP Powell said. He said the focus of the police would be Ocho Rios next. Some efforts had been made there in recent weeks but it had to be kept up, he said.
SSP Powell, the head cop for the Ann Division, has for four consecutive months called on the Municipal Council to assist the police in dealing with illegal vending that has resulted in sidewalks and shop piazzas being taken over by vendors. Taxi operators continue to use undesignated areas including plazas and gas stations to take up ad set down or wait for passengers. All this has led to congestion in the main St Ann towns of Ocho Rios, St Ann’s Bay and Brown’s Town.
But over that period there has been no effort of the Municipal Corporation to try to return order to the streets.
