IN JAMAICA: Market Mayhem Thugs continue to rob, abuse and extort Coronation vendors...The 'dem bway' being referred to were from the Lizard Town section of Tivoli Gardens, the vendor insisted..."Dem nuh want no goods yuh know sah," she went on. "All dem do is wait pon yuh 'till dem believe yuh mek enough money and then dem draw dung pon yuh," she said.

BY HG HELPS Editor-at-large helpsh@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, December 28, 2014    

DESPITE the efforts of police personnel, vendors at the Coronation Market in West Kingston continue to be robbed, verbally and sometimes physically abused by thugs.

The vendors, many of whom are from the Corporate Area, as well as various sections of rural Jamaica, told the Jamaica Observer on different visits to the largest market in the island that they were frustrated and are near the point of packing their goods and venturing elsewhere.

Thugs continue to rob, abuse and extort Coronation vendors

"Me tired a dis now yaa sah," one woman told the Sunday Observer on a visit to the market close to 11:00 one night leading up to Christmas Day.

"Me soon pack up me things because dem bway from over so soon come rob me," the vendor said.

The 'dem bway' being referred to were from the Lizard Town section of Tivoli Gardens, the vendor insisted, adding that they would do her physical harm if she did not 'let off'.

She said that she had been robbed of money on five occasions.

"Dem nuh want no goods yuh know sah," she went on. "All dem do is wait pon yuh 'till dem believe yuh mek enough money and then dem draw dung pon yuh," she said.

Interestingly, five minutes before the Sunday Observer stopped at her stall, a group of police personnel was seen buying vegetables from her.

"So what happen to them police who just leave yuh stall," was the obvious question posed to her.

"Who dem? Dem caan even protect themself, much more protect di higgler dem. Di police dem a Darling Street station 'fraid fi dem bway over so," she insisted. more