“Come and get it………La Calle Expendedora”

As I make my way through the crowded streets in the city area, I am constantly greeted by persons or side street vendors trying to make deals and encouraging me to purchase their products. I look down only to recognize that these are sometimes the same items sold in other stores and the variety ranges from clothing, crafts and even food items.

Then I wonder to myself, what’s the difference of buying my stuff in the store as compared to buying it on the street? Why should I support someone who can afford to pay city rent to have their items in a store? Why should I not but what I need right here? Is this not more convenient that having to look for a store that has the specific item that I need? Is this not the exact same thing I would purchase in a store for a much higher price? Should I buy this now or not? Would there be differences in quality? Is there a “pride tag” associated with side street goods that discourages persons from purchasing them? …..All the these questions and many many more flood my mind every time I encounter a person selling stuff on the side of the street.

Illustrated in the image is a side street vendor and his items on one of the main streets in the city center of Arima, close to the “Dial”.

Firstly, it is stated that persons who sell on the side of the street are often referred to as “street vendors” or street traders” (Women in informal employment: Globalizing and organizing 2014). These are persons who operate in various types of local spaces such as around the markets as well as outside buildings that are privately owned and they convert these spaces into “side street markets” (ibid). They are defined as persons who offer goods for sale to the public without having a permanent built up structure (San Santoso 2013).

Side street vending is seen to be a very essential aspect of commercial zones. This is as a good and service is being offered to the wider public with a high convenience and at a cheaper price. These goods and services can be categorized into varying fragments such as the sale of general merchandise, food vendors and vendors of print material (Loukaitou-Sideris and Schrenfeucht 2009). These vendors may have fixed stalls on the side of the streets, semi-fixed stalls with folding tables, crates, push carts as well as collapsible stands (International Labour Organization 2002). Likewise, may of the street vendors may sell their stuff in fixed positions in the city mainly in the commercial zone and display their items using plastic and cloth sheets whereas some persons sell straight out their cars (ibid).

In addition, according to Djoen San Santoso, street vending is “a type of informal employment (2013).” Many of them work long hours, maybe even up to 8 hours like persons who work in the formal sector (Women in informal employment: Globalizing and organizing 2014). They are a sort of subsistence group of sales persons that rely on the sale of their products in the city center to take care of themselves and their family.  They are able to attract varying types of customers and can adapt to varying conditions in different urban centers (ibid).

           One major problem associated with side street vending is the narrowing of public space. According to Djoen San Santoso, “street vending is a major source of problems for the pedestrian” (2013). As more and more persons set up to sell on the streets in urban areas the sidewalk area allocated to pedestrian are shorten. Although, many locals are accustomed to this and see it as part of “local trini” culture and heritage, many persons are not accustomed to it (San Santoso 2013).

         Similarily, another major issue that arises is increased competition. Many store owners argue that side street vendors are able to sell their products at a lower price because they do not have rent and other city taxes to pay on their goods. They note that this decreases their sales as many locals prefer to purchase the items as the majority of persons like a good bargain (Felmine2013).Likewise, the customers prefer to purchase the item that is most convenient to them on the side of the street rather than having to search through stores which takes up a lot of time and time is very precious especially to working and busy persons. 

The following article highlight side streets vending around Christmas time in Trinidad: https://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-12-26/sando-businesses-being-strangled-street-vendors

Another major problem that may arise is the safety of food items prepared and sold by side street vendors. The questions of whether the food was handled in a sanitary way are often brought up by many persons as well as do these persons own a food permit in order to sell these items (ESL Environmental Issues 2013).  In addition, foods sold on the side of the streets in commercial zones are usually prepared at the vendor’s home and can lead to improper storage and transport methods that can eventually lead to much health risk when consumed by the customer. Linked to storage is the fact that these persons may not have the appropriate facilities to keep the food fresh and preserved throughout the day as they do not thrive in permanent stalls (ibid).

The following link gives greater information into Caribbean food side street vending: http://eslcaribbean.com/index.php/articles/item/street-side-food-vendors-and-food-safety

In Trinidad these potential problems were noted by the authorities and thus in many major commercial zones side street vending was banned. Instead, they were given certain streets or areas to sell their products at which were secluded from the city center as a means to keep the side walk clear as well as to reduce traffic congestion that resulted in the commercial zones.

The following article entitled “No vending on streets” highlights the side street vending problem in San Fernando, Trinidad: http://guardian.co.tt/news/2010/12/17/no-vending-streets

However, it should be noted that after some time and after much debate the side street vendors were given the right to sell their products on the side of the street. This is emphasized in the following article: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business/Street-vending-gets-city-OK-253136111.html

The following video demonstrates the side street vending dilemma in Chaguanas, Trinidad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntSoPb1Mpm4

Conclusion:

 Side street vending is a major aspect of commercial zones. It is evident in al Caribbean landscapes especially in the urban city centers of Trinidad and Tobago. Side street vendors produce and sell a good and service at a cheap price that is convenient to the general public. This raises many problems relating to economic competition, the width of the said walks and the safety of the products being sold.

This has led many countries to banning side street vending in the city center but after much debate they laws were dropped as side street dweller pose many benefits to the public as well as to the city s it attracts people there.

To me, although products sold are cheaper than in the stores, many persons still prefer to purchase store bound items due to the pride that comes with it. Likewise, many persons also weigh out the safety and quality of the products and may tend to gravitate towards the store products. Also, I believe that side street traders serve to ensure that less fortunate persons in society are not marginalized as they too can also own the same products as persons who buy them in the store.

References:

Bromley, Ray.2000. "Street vending and public policy: a global review." International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 20, no. 1/2 1--28.

Eslcaribbean.com. "Street-side food vendors and food safety." 2014. http://eslcaribbean.com/index.php/articles/item/street-side-food-vendors-and-food-safety (accessed 7th Apr 2014).

Felmine, Kevon. "Sando businesses being strangled by street vendors." Guardian Media Limited, 26th December,2013.

International Labour Organistion.2002.Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture. Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Loukaitou-Sideris,2009.Anastasia and Renia Ehrenfeucht. Sidewalks. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Ray, Bromley.2000. "Street Vending and Public Policy: A Global Review." International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 20, no. 1/2 1-28. Accessed 5 Apr 2014.

San SANTOSO, Djoen. 2013."Perceptions of Foreign Tourists towards Street Vendors in Bangkok." 9.

Wiego.org. 2014."About Street Vendors: Significance, Size, Policies and Organizations | WIEGO." http://wiego.org/informal-economy/occupational-groups/street-vendors (accessed 7th Apr 2014).