The weeks following the relocation of the street vendors to the new Marketplaces should be a time to talk about its success and ways to maintain the momentum. Instead, we find ourselves talking about public parking. Folks, moving the vendors off the streets was not to resolve parking issues in Kingstown! The parking discussion becomes an issue because of our natural fear of the unknown. By making this announcement at the opening of the new Vendor Marketplace (Upper Bay Street), the Prime Minister (PM), in his usual masterful way, provided a distraction for his normal group of opponents. After all, we have all heard on social media and radio how thoughtless this move was and how this heartless administration does not think about its people.
The PM knew a jab at the lawyers will not engender any sympathy from the public, and this group will attempt to justify their right to free parking at the courthouse. And right on cue, they stole the limelight and changed the discussion. The PM successfully drove the conversation from relocating the poor working-class vendors to an untested venue to one of the more comfortable middle-class working professional groups with minimal effort. So, while we should be discussing how to make the new Marketplaces thriving and vibrant locations for the vendors, we found ourselves debating free parking.
Another announcement that seemed lost in this discussion was that about 400 vendors were or will be given “relocation” assistance of $200 each. You all know how I feel about these payments; yes, the government should stop these random payouts to mostly undeserving victims. I do, however, agree that the Kingstown Town Board (KTB) needs to do something to ensure the success of the new Marketplace. But is this the way? Why do we always go for the easy option? How will a one-time payment of $200 ensure this Marketplace’s success? What if the KTB had an extra $80-100 thousand dollars to promote the venue?
The KTB missed an opportunity to use our marketing elite to develop a comprehensive marketing plan to sell this location to consumers. The conversation about relocating vendors off the streets of Kingstown has been around for decades. And the best we got is a $200 payday. Some other things to consider may have included: providing free limited-time parking for people shopping at the new market or maybe a chance for shoppers to win a few lottery tickets with proof of purchase of a specific amount on random days. To ensure a thriving marketplace, we must find ways to make sure the shoppers come. How about putting some $5 coupons in the local newspapers to be used only at the new Marketplace? How about giving the vendors $200 worth of deferred rent subject to specific terms and conditions?
The new market should be limited to vendors selling 75% locally grown or produced products. This venue should not be a place to sell merchandise bought in Trinidad to help get our trafficker money back home, especially when the goods bought in from T&T were not grown there. They should be uniformed security personnel on duty whenever the market is open. Selected anchor vendors should be in strategic locations throughout the venue to drive customers through the aisles. Try working with the local TV, newspapers, and radio stations and invite them to cover activity at the market. Develop special weekly features highlighting vendors and their products. Go to the field and meet some farmers, tell their stories, and showcase the farms. The KTB, as the operators, should also use social media to highlight vendors and farmers. Local recipes and the medicinal value of fruits, vegetables, and herbs could also be posted on this site.
Come on now, let’s do this one right. I am confident that these markets will succeed initially. I am, however, concerned that we will let our guard down and that the early success will not last if we do not implement a continuous review and improvement process.
Horatio
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