WHAT IS THIS?: A vendor points to a space where a sink is supposed to be inside a booth at the Queen’s Park Savannah yesterday. Vendors are facing a myriad of problems with the booths provided to them by the NCC. PHOTO BY RYAN HAMILTON-DAVIS
WHILE thousands raised their hands in joy at the Panorama semis yesterday at Queen’s Park Savannah, vendors were raising their hands to the heavens in sorrow, begging the Almighty for a break.
The North Park and Grand Stand were both well populated with people of all ages and walks of life come to hear the pan. Police officers, firemen and other officers of the security agencies were on hand to ensure law and order. But for many vendors, there was no joy and no money to be made despite the many thousands in attendance.
A combination of issues led to several vendors who would usually fill booths that are erected at the Savannah’s perimeter, missing out on the patronage of the pan fans at the semis. Vendors and the contractors who built the booths are now complaining that arrangements to have the booths built and licensed took too long to the point where vendors did not have time to set up shop before yesterday’s semis.
“Let me be frank. They take too damn long to start this and it shameful considering that the Carnival season is longer than normal,” said a contractor who yesterday was still overseeing the building of booths while nearby, pan bands were vying for a place in the finals.
Replies
same shite different year
time for a press conference to start the blame game