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March 17, 2026
One hundred and nine vendors from the La Grange/Bagotsville area took part in a lottery on Saturday to determine their new vending spots, the Ministry of Public Works said.
The exercise, organised by the ministry, aims to relocate vendors from the roadway to a more organised and safer environment.
Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, said the vendors, who traditionally sell produce and other goods along the roadside on Sundays, will now operate from safer locations.
“We have a space set so that the people on the roadway could sell on Sunday. When they finish selling on Sunday, they will collapse their tables and their stalls, and we will continue to work to improve the tarmac to a more all-weather surface,” he said.
Edghill noted that the previous area was not a designated market and that several stalls had extended onto the carriageway, creating safety concerns for both vendors and motorists.
Following consultations with vendors last week, the ministry identified two areas suitable for vending: a street leading to the La Grange Police Station and an additional space along the southern side of the Number One Canal.
The ministry’s technical team also conducted a walkthrough during the busy Sunday vending period to document and photograph vendors. The exercise identified 109 vendors, who were subsequently invited to select their assigned spaces.
Vendor Jessica King, who has been selling for over 12 years and whose mother has been a vendor for almost 30 years, expressed her gratitude for the relocation process.
“I’m happy with the number that I pulled, since I will be at the front part.. I’m glad that he came out so that we can get more space on the road,” she said.
The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to organise vending activities while infrastructure work progresses, ensuring vendors can continue earning a livelihood in a structured environment. (DPI)
