The Queen’s Square Market – its Belize’s most popular outlet for fresh produce and it starts to bustle from very early in the morning, well before dawn. And while vendors toil in darkness, this morning armed criminals were also on the prowl. This morning, two vendors were robbed at gunpoint. Jacqueline Godwin found out more.

Guerillmo Santos, Concerned Street Vendor
“Definitely we need some more security. We don’t see no security around us, nobody around. They say they have security but he is there by the gate and not walking around to see what is happening.”

Are the street vendors of Queen’s Square Market being targeted by criminals? We do not know but the attacks are becoming far too frequent for these hard workers to feel safe. The most recent hold-up and robbery unfolded around three fifteen this morning when forty one year old Eloy Basto from the Corozal District and forty three year old Jaime Majaro from the Orange Walk District arrived to sell fruits and vegetables.

Jaime Majaro, Victim of Hold-Up/Robbery
“Fifteen minutes after we reached here this morning, two colored guys arrived and they asked me for cigarettes and I told them I do not smoke so I cannot give you any cigarettes. The guys they then started to tell me how they were the police and they took out a gun and started to point it at me. They then started to search us and they stole my cash, one thousand two hundred dollars and my cell phone.”

The gunman then stole from Eloy Basto his wallet that had fifty dollars and several identification cards. We did not find Eloy Basto at the market he had to leave early because of an eye injury he received during the attack when the gunman hit him with the black handgun.

Jaime Majaro,
“You know it is not the first time this has happened to me while working out here. I have to work to make an honest living.”

This morning’s attack comes on the heels of a similar incident that unfolded on Saturday. Today, the street vendors are concerned.

Guerillmo Santos,
“On Saturday they came and stole the money from the vendor which he was making.”

Although no one was reportedly hurt, the street vendors recall hearing four gunshots. Today we found two expended nine milimeter shells left on the street in the area of Saturday’s incident.

Guerillmo Santos,
“I think we need some more safety around because everyday we do selling here, we pay $10 to the City Council and I think we don’t have any guard, no safety around to take care of the vendors. You know everybody is scared of these guys. Once in a while we see the police pass but sometimes you are telling the police you need help and they say they will come back.”

Police are investigating but they are not certain if the attacks are isolated or connected. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.

No arrests have been made.