Fines for illegal vending could skyrocket
Published:Friday | September 16, 2016 | 12:00 AMCarl Gilchrist
WITH UNAUTHORISED vending being a source of illegal dumping, and given the recent flooding along Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston and Montego Bay, St James, as a result of blocked drains and gullies, fines for illegal street vending could soon be increased to as high as $50,000.
Addressing members of the St Ann Justices of the Peace Association in Ocho Rios yesterday, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck said legislation was now before Parliament to increase fines for illegal vending.
Mayor of St Ann's Bay Desmond Gilmore had raised the issue of stiffer penalties being imposed on persons brought before the court for illegal vending, saying they are usually fined $1,000.
ILLEGAL VENDING
"Illegal vending is contributing to the garbage clogging up gullies and making this place look unfit for people to walk around," Chuck contended.
"The last two huge flooding in St James and Marcus Garvey Drive, it's all about garbage, and it's not just the little man; it's [also] the big man. Everybody [is] throwing garbage in the gullies, throwing their garbage on the streets, and creating that problem.
"With respect to illegal vending, it may well be in the purview of justices of the peace to impose penalties soon. We want to increase the penalties not to $2,000 maximum, but maybe somewhere (between) $25,000 or $50,000, so justices of the peace can impose a higher penalty where there is illegal vending," Chuck said.