"
That is the strong message from veteran beach vendor Wynslo Phillips, who has had it with what he described as constant "harassment" from beach rangers from the National Conservation Commission (NCC).
The former journalist said he had been making a living from painting and selling on the beach for 20 years and was not about to be stopped by the NCC or any of its rangers.
What has him even more incensed, is that he submitted an application for the renewal of a vendor's licence and is yet to hear word on it three months later.
"This is total idiocy, to harass me for not having a permit and yet they won't issue me with one," he complained.
"The NCC would prefer to see me sweeping the hotel yard, or selling coconuts. Painting isn't for black people," he added angrily.
Phillips, who operates from the Waterfront at Turtle Beach, told THE NATION his licence allowed him to operate on an area of the nearby property, formerly known as Casuarina Beach Hotel.
He said the previous owners allowed him free access to the property so he never bothered to renew his licence.
Both the ownership and the name of the hotel have changed, and Phillips claimed the new owners "don't want people selling on the beach".
"They want vendors away from the property. They want them by the lifeguard hut," he argued.
He said the rangers constantly try to prohibit him from painting on the beach because "he was exposing work for sale".
"I come here early on mornings between 6 and 6:30 and set up my work. When the rangers come between 9 and 10 o'clock, I take my stuff down and put it in my bag . . . . I don't sell my work in the presence of the rangers," he explained.
He said vendors were further restricted now, because rangers seemed to be working longer hours.
The 59-year-old St Michael resident said he would leave around noon and return around 5 p.m., but recently the rangers would be harassing him to take his stuff down.
Scapegoats
Phillips' theory is that the hotels cry harassment whenever they have a bad year and use the vendors as "scapegoats".
He is concerned that the number of vendors are dwindling, with people opting for other vocations. According to him, the few that remain have a tough time with the rangers and hotel management in other instances.
"These guys are important to local tourism. If they weren't an attraction for girls, they [the girls] would go elsewhere . . . . People have families to provide for," he stated.
General manager of the NCC Keith Neblett said he would look into the matter.
He, however, explained that there were no restrictions on people wanting to paint on the beach, but they would need to acquire a licence
if they were offering the product for sale.