CASTRIES Mayor Peterson Francis says the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) has kept pressing ahead despite challenges it encountered – and he’s urging city vendors to take full charge of their future, as their success is always in their hands.
“While faced with several challenges and opposition, we never allowed that to derail us as we seek to better organize and bring meaningful benefits to our vendors,” Francis declared, without identifying the source of opposition.
He was addressing the launch Monday of a Vendors’ Registration Programme at City Hall that saw 178 vendors participating in the initiative.
The Mayor told vendors that the launch represented “only the first phase” of the programme.
“The second phase will see the distribution of tents and umbrellas to improve the presentation on the sidewalks,” Francis disclosed.
He continued, “This Vendors’ Registration Programme can now boast a mechanism to drive your agenda and success forward.
“It can boast a stronger relationship between you, the CCC and by extension the government. It can boast a renewed comprehensive approach to vending. And it can boast that you are now finally reaping the rewards of your daily taxes.
“The success of major companies has proven that it starts with you. Your trade, your commitment, your network and your forward thinking.”
According to the Mayor’s office, the Vendors’ Registration Programme will provide significant benefit to vendors, such as free access to public comfort stations, job letters identifying them as authorized vendors, ID cards and tent packages for roadside vendors, among other benefits.
It was preceded by several consultations held in 2017 with merchants from the Vendors Arcade, Provisions and Craft Markets and roadside traders.