There were mixed reactions this week to the demonstration by vendors downtown Kingston, who protested against unfair treatment meted out to them by the police.

Some people felt they should be left alone so they can earn their honest living. There were people who said they were happy that steps were being taken to move them from the side walk because shoppers had a difficult time finding space to walk.

Quarrel

Two women had a quarrel over the protest and at one stage came close to fighting when one pushed the other in the head.

"What you pushing me for? this is a free country and the vendors have no right to be selling on the sidewalk," the woman shouted.

"Ok, mi sorry fi push you but you don't have to talk so hard against the vendors," the other woman said. She quickly reminded her opponent that jobs were hard to get in Jamaica and that was the reason so many people had to resort to selling.

"It is not that many of them like to sell, but if they don't fend for themselves and their children, who is going to take care of them. It is all about survival and the people have to live. The police must leave them alone and go catch criminals," she said.

In response, the other woman said she agreed with some of the points she raised but she still believed the vendors should not be allowed to block the sidewalk.

"All I am saying is that they must sell their goods but not on the sidewalk. Special vending areas must be provided for them to sell their stuff. The police are given directives to stop them from selling on the sidewalk because it is illegal to do so. The vendors are not above the law," she stressed.

Place to sell

A man who was nearby joined in the argument. "Let me tell you, some of them will curse you if your foot barely touch their goods, "the man said. "I am a vendor but I don't sell on the sidewalk. There is an empty arcade near Coronation market but they don't want to go in there to sell. If something is illegal, it is just illegal."

The man referred to an incident this year on Princess Street, downtown Kingston, when a vendor assaulted one of the merchants. He explained that the nerchant wanted to pass to open his shop and a vendor had his goods in the way. When the owner moved, some of the goods out of the way, the vendor threw hot water on the storeowner

The two women agreed that was serious and queried if the police had arrested the vendor but the man said he did not know.

It is an offence to throw hot water on someone and the vendor could be charged with assault. If the water caused severe burns then the vendor could be charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm which attracts a lengthy prison sentence.