Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, affirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy on new vendors and roadside encumbrances, particularly within construction zones.
He clarified that persons erecting new stalls along ongoing road projects will have them removed immediately and without notice.
“Any new vending along any thoroughfare where a project is being executed, no notice will be given. The same day you set up is the same day you will be removed,” he emphasised during the Palmyra to Moleson Creek public consultation session on Tuesday.
The minister explained that the measure is intended to ensure public safety while national development progresses.
“We are for development, we do not exploit people,” he said.
The minister clarified that vendors who have been displaced will be relocated to designated tarmac areas.
In addition, the government is moving to establish vending plazas in every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) across the country.
The proposed plazas will feature food courts and proper facilities for vendors, creating spaces that are tourist-friendly, clean, safe, and enjoyable.
Minister Edghill further stressed that no one, regardless of political affiliation, is exempt from the policy.
“And nobody is going to tell me they are a comrade. We want everyone to be a comrade, and when you are one, you fall in line faster than any non-comrade, because the PPP/C is a disciplined party,” he stated.
As enforcement continues, the ministry is notifying offenders both in person and via social media, allowing them the opportunity to remove their items.
Failure to comply will result in the items being removed and impounded, with a fee charged for their return.
Minister Edghill recently reiterated that parapets are not private property.
He noted that such encumbrances are not only unsightly but can also serve as hiding places for criminal activity, posing a threat to community safety.
He said that citizens also have a role to play by reporting such cases through the ministry’s recently launched hotlines.
Members of the public can submit reports via WhatsApp at 624-2964, while contractors can contact the ministry on 624-2965.