Caught selling without a permit

Less than 24 hours after being warned to stop his illegal vending, Makonen Amani Grant was back with his cooler soliciting sales for his natural juices.

The 30-year-old vendor, of King’s Village, Holders Hill, St James, had appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, where he pleaded guilty to offering juices for sale on Swan Street on November 27 without a permit issued in accordance with the Market And Slaughterhouse Act.

A condition of his bail was that he did not sell on Swan Street until he received his permit. But by Wednesday, the vendor was back in his spot peddling his wares.

The illegal vendor said he had been waiting about three months for a permit and he asked the court for a letter of recommendation “to help me get it a little faster”.

“If I don’t get my permit, I still got to pay $100 to the court. I can’t stay home and let it mount up. It wasn’t like I was illegal, illegal. I was trying to pay my child maintenance bill,” he declared.

Grant denied that the lawman asked him for his name and address.

“He [was] telling me to leave the compound, but I say I can’t move ’cause I got three coolers and I would need help moving them. I tell he let me get someone to help me move them.

“He end up getting aggressive and he end up grabbing my hand and throwing he hand in my neck,” the vendor said.

Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant ordered the vendor to return to court on January 31 and present his permit. He would be sentenced at that time. Until then, he was released on $1 000 bail with a surety.

Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons said police saw Grant on Swan Street and approached him. They asked to see his permit, to which Grant replied: “No, I getting something sorted.”

Lawmen asked him for his name and address, which he refused to give.

When he was told that was an offence, Grant replied: “You best call for back-up.” (HLE)