More than 200 sellers already signed up

Approximately 226 vendors have been registered under the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation's (KSAC) Vendor Registration Programme.

Mayor Angela Brown Burke made the disclosure at the KSAC's monthly council meeting on Monday, downtown Kingston.

The aim of the programme is to ensure vendors operating within legal areas are registered.

The initiative will target persons engaged in vending activities within the formal markets and designated vending areas in Kingston and St Andrew.

"We began with 13 persons on July 23. So far, we have been focusing on Pearnel Charles Arcade, Coronation Market, Oxford Mall Arcade, Darling Street transportation centre and the Queen's Market," Brown Burke said.

She said the KSAC is dissatisfied with the progress being made in the programme, so far.

"Later this week, we will take a look to see what changes can be made to different elements of the programme, as we have it.

"Notwithstanding this analysis, I want to remind vendors that, in the same way you need a driver's licence to drive on the nation's streets, vendors require registration to sell," Brown Burke said.

She added that any vendor not registered to the targeted markets and arcades by August 31, will be an illegal vendor, and an "enforcement team will be directed to act."

"We will begin discussions with the police to assist with this enforcement," she said, thanking those who have recognised the importance of registration.

The vending fee for stalls in markets and arcades are $3,000 annually, $5,000 for off-street annex and $6,000 for approved on-street areas.