This morning we were urgently called out to East Collet Canal in front of the Bus Terminal where a pair of sidewalk vendors said they were being pushed around, shaken down and taken advantage of. They said they pay the city council 25 dollars monthly for a vendor's license but still get harassed by city enforcement staff:...
Mario Chan, Vendor
"I come to sell in Belize but they told me to take out a trade license to sell. I took it out, I paid $25 and now I'm paying $25 every month to sell. They moved me from the next side. I went to the city council to ask them if I can sell on this side and they told me yes whole day you can sell your fruits there. Now they're trying to move me, but they haven't told me anything, from yesterday they should have told me. When we already packed up our things to sell, they're trying to move us. They were trying to tell us from yesterday that we need to move to the next side, when we have our things packed up their trying to move us. That is not fair because we're paying every month to sell here when we're selling in the front of the market, they told me 10:30. When I went to the city council and showed them my card they told me I can go to the next side by Malik and sell whole day. The city council working here by the marker, their trying to move me, harassing me and roughing me up."
Fernando Chan, Vendor
"I come way from Corozal District to try and fight for a living here in Belize. I don't feel contented because they don't treat us like Belizeans, we are Belizeans, and we're losing our rights. I think the people outside have more rights. If your conscience and you see the market, all the street is controlled by the strangers. Right now we used to sell in front of Castillo's meet market, they moved us from there and sometimes when we want to stay, they want us to give them a $5 or $10 and we already paid. All what those security want are money, that's thieving because we already paid. I know that's why this is happening, please check all those securities, if you have to go let them go. I will say the truth and I won't worry who gets hurt. This is the time I should exercise my right, this is too much, and enough is enough. We are fighting for a living, we're on the side. They told us market day, and next thing you know, if you give them a little something, they'll make you stay. I think they're getting spoiled. I want this come to the surface and let the head security come. I don't care who have to go because there's a limit, if I have to point, I will point the persons."
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