COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Darwin Dottin believes there are sociological issues surrounding the controversy of vending in the City.

"I am firm in my mind there are sociological issues with the enforcement of law and there is also the fact that you need to enable and empower who engages in this type of entrepeneurship," he said during a Press conference Tuesday at the District "A" Complex.

However, he pointed out that despite the role street vending played in the country, it was important it was not allowed to be conducted willy-nilly.

"Vending is an important part of entrepreneurship in Barbados, but it's just that it can't be allowed to develop unrestricted.

"There has to be some regulation as to the way it is dealt with," he added.

Dottin said he did not see any conflict with the way the force carried out its duties as they related to street vendors.

Legislation

"Suffice it to say that we are enforcing a particular piece of legislation, the Markets and Slaughterhouses Act."

In yesterday's DAILY NATION, Opposition Leader David Thompson called on Government to set up centrally located open air vendors' markets in Bridgetown which would help bring the "harassment of vendors" to a screeching halt.

Delivering the annual Errol Barrow Memorial lecture in New York, he said such a plan would allow them to "ply their wares", earn a living and support their families "without being harassed and driven off the street".

"I believe in law and order but I also believe space has to be created for Barbadians to live in Barbados.

"It doesn't make sense criminalising the activities of young men so at the end of the day, they then cannot feed their children. Much more has to be done. It doesn't make sense hiding them away in malls, vendors' malls, where nobody can see them." (TS)