Street vendors in Port of Spain are mounting opposition against the city’s proposed sanitation initiative while demanding expanded working rights and protection from illegal competitors. The conflict emerged during a tense meeting between vendors and Port of Spain City Corporation officials at City Hall Auditorium on January 6, where representatives from Charlotte Street, Frederick Street, and other commercial areas voiced their concerns.
The corporation’s $18 million clean city initiative, announced in October 2025, involves acquiring garbage compactors and amending public health regulations. Deputy Mayor Abena Hartley cited warnings from multiple government agencies about severe public health and safety concerns caused by current vending practices, exacerbated by the absence of comprehensive legislation.
Proposed regulations would require vendors to completely remove all merchandise from streets daily, prohibiting overnight storage in stalls or on pavements. Corporation engineering assistant Sinclair Collis emphasized the cleaning challenges posed by leftover crates and produce, which contribute to drainage clogging, urban flooding, food decomposition odors, and expanding rat infestations in underground systems.
Vendor representatives called the proposals impractical. Junior Lewis, vice president of the Charlotte Street Vendors Association, argued that moving heavy produce daily would create physical and logistical impossibilities for many operators. Female vendors particularly highlighted the excessive physical demands and additional costs involved.
Beyond sanitation concerns, vendors challenged the fundamental structure of their operating permissions. Currently limited to Thursday through Saturday sales, vendors described the three-day work week as economically unsustainable. Petra Cayman, a Frederick Street jewelry vendor, called the arrangement “a death sentence” in Trinidad’s high-cost living environment, noting that missed opportunities during cruise ship season further diminish earnings.
Vendors also identified illegal operators as a significant problem, with unregistered competitors undercutting prices without paying fees or rents. Additional complaints included inadequate street lighting affecting safety during high crime periods, noise pollution from adjacent businesses, and unreliable garbage collection services that exacerbate sanitation issues.
Deputy Mayor Hartley acknowledged the corporation’s constrained resources, revealing drastic budget cuts from $19 million to approximately $4 million for infrastructure maintenance. This reduction has impacted the vending management team’s capacity to provide support. Vending program manager Deon Samm encouraged stricter adherence to fee payments, rental agreements, and health regulations to maintain operational continuity.
Further consultations are planned with vendors, the Works and Infrastructure Ministry, and the Fire Service to develop updated vending contracts that balance public health concerns with vendor livelihoods.