Fruit vendor Nelroy Calderon wearing a scarf over his nose to keep the dust out. But he cannot keep it from landing on his fruit.

VENDORS are still facing a number of challenges as work continues on the Constitution River Beautification Project in Bridgetown.

Cousins Nelroy and Wayne "Cash" Calderon and Don Carlo said dust was affecting them and their sales and they did not feel workmen were wetting the area often enough.

"I have problems with dust blowing on my fruit and I can't sell them," said Nelroy.

Wayne said he also feared being struck by flying stones as small excavators (Bobcats) were being used close to the vendors.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs' (BARVEN) president, Alistair Alexander, said his organisation was dissatisfied with how the Barbados Tourism Inc. (BTII) had been dealing with vendors.

When a WEEKEND NATION team visited the site yesterday, workmen were widening and raising a sidewalk as planned. However, the vendors had not been relocated as requested.

However, public relations officer Richard Scantlebury said yesterday their request to be relocated had not been met and BTII had not told them anything. As a result, they would be seeking compensation for loss of business.

When contacted, BTII's programme director Charles Holder said the work was going well. "There are some issues to be resolved with vendors but we are moving expeditiously to do so," he said.
(CA)