Vendors are people too : 11/5/2009
I am astounded at the first comment! This must be the type of mindset that allows us to keep returning to this issue time and time again. Some time ago it was a public officer going home with the market key and now these late a.m opening hours. We treat vendors like they are unworthy of the opportunity to make an honest living and issues like this tells me we pay lip service to the agricultural industry. I have shopped at Cheapside (and continue to do so) when the vendors were in the open air by Ms. Ram as early as 5:30 a.m. I got there early enough to make my purchases and still get into work at 8:30 a.m. Our public sector policies need to be flexible to accommodate the reality of the field. Markets do need to be opened earlier than 7:00 and if vendors request a 5:00 or 6:00 a.m opening it is not "trumped up" but based on their knowledge of their customers and the requirements of their job.

: 11/4/2009
There are a lot of empty stall in Fairchild Street, fill the spaces with some of them. Hopefully they will get sales from the early passengers disembarking the buses.If Barbados is to progress they must learn to stagger working hours. It can't be business as usual opening at 7.oo and closing at 4.00 p.m

The BLP's Community Divestment Programme would solve this and other similar problems. : 11/4/2009
Instead of criticising BARVEN, here is how a caring government would held: Use GIS to maket and advertise the services being offered at such markets (2) pursue the BLP's Community Divestment Programme and (3) give BARVEN the keys to the facility. Make them responsible for security, cleaninf of the facility, while the government would be responsible for major repairs; insurnace and marketing. It is my view that the BLP's Community Divestment Programme would solve this and other similar problems.

Who do BARVEN thing they are : 11/4/2009
Can someone help me to understand how a 5:00am opening hour of the market would increase BARVENS Vendor profit margin? At 5 in the morning how many customers could they possibly be, if any at all. Also I fail to believe that the outdoor market next to Shop Smart, to whom BARVEN referred, is actually making sales before 5:00am. Who are they making these sales too before 5am and how many Barbadians, non Barbadians, internationals, caricom nationals are roaming the streets looking to buy vendor goods before 5am. In these times I find the necessity to substantiate some of these sensationlist claims because the validity of the stories are mostly trumped up charges to paint a situation of gloom and doom. BARVEN have always been inconsistent with their arguements and facts and have shown themselves to be defiant and difficult. It really makes me sad to think that government could change working hours to accomodate a group of persons that are known to be hostile, vagabonds, dissenters and usually non cooperative. I see nothing wrong with an opening hour of 7:00am. What BARVEN should do is go and teach many of their vendors customer relationship skills and etiquette and seek to embrace a more NISER approach to the way that they conduct their affairs.