MAKE SPACE FOR HIGHWAY VENDING
P. Polar 20/09/04
Published as: Make Space for Vendors Trinidad Express 21/9/04
The Editor: I have fond memories of my father pulling over on the highway to purchase peewah or whatever was in season. For the young family, what should have become their own fond memory became a nightmarish experience as tragedy befell mother and child last week. I would like to express my deepest sympathies for the survivors and their family. I sincerely hope I do not offend them in any way with the rest of my comments.
In the days subsequent to the accident, the enemy of the state, became the lowly highway peewah vendor. Along the highway, the red fruit laden trucks have now become a thing of the past. Tragedy sometimes spurs action, however superficial it may be. We still have maniacal drivers behind the wheel of these enormous trucks, but at least we do not have highway vendors.
Although it may not be a popular opinion at the moment, I am not against highway vending. The shoulder of the highway is clearly not a safe place to vend or purchase, but everyone has the right to earn a living. It is difficult enough for those involved in agriculture to eke out a living, but we have removed the most profitable location where they may, literally, sell the fruits of their labor. I respect those people who instead of crime, try to be entrepreneurial to provide for their families.
Governments, often in their haste to please the many with a trivial offering, make decisions that jeopardize the livelihoods of the few. If actions are taken for the greater good, then for goodness sakes, minimize the detrimental effects on those who are most affected. If a village must be displaced to build an airport, a right thinking government would ensure that houses are provided for affected residents before the runway is laid. If a state enterprise were to be restructured, resulting in the loss of jobs, a right thinking government would ensure that separation benefits are paid promptly and not as an afterthought.
Government should not be as cut-throat as the private sector. Even good ideas, which appease public outcry should be shelved for ideas which are more compassionate in nature. Is it impossible to pave a few strategic areas, along the sides of the major highways, for vending? There is ample state land for this purpose. This would allow the public to pull off the highway into a safe location to purchase the desired items and would not cause a traffic build up. Such an act, has the potential of allowing hundreds of persons, to make a honest living. If you think about it, it is possible to have your peewah and eat it too.
Author's note: Written in response to the removal of vendors from the Highway. There seems to be an all out assault on vendors who are just trying to make an honest living.