For decades now the straw vendors have been a vocal group that seemed to get whatever they want from the Bahamian government, but this has changed in recent years.
After the fire of 2001 that destroyed the straw market, a tent was erected for them with promises of building them a new market.
The government changed in 2002 and there was another five years of promises.
The government has changed again and the contract entered into in early 2007 was cancelled so the vendors could supposedly be “given” a market that better suites their needs.
Now the vendors have been told they will be moved from their rat infested tents to temporary facilities until this new market can be built. This has brought out a chorus of nay sayers from the ranks of the vendors.
Of course the years since 2002 have seen protests from various groups of vendors sympathetic to one political party or the other saying they are not getting what they deserve.
Well believe it or not there is a permanent solution.
The straw vendors should submit an offer to the government to buy the property where the proposed market is to be built, and erect their own edifice that they will have to maintain themselves, just like every other business person has to do.
Then they do not need the government to spend taxpayer dollars on a building that most Bahamians are not entitled to use, even though it is to be built with taxes paid by all Bahamians.
Better still, the government would no longer be able to tell them where they will ply their wares, solving an obvious problem for them…not being able to get their way with other people’s money.
Now don’t tell me that the vendors can’t afford to do it. Many of them have children that are lawyers and doctors and they were educated by the money earned by the straw vendors.
It would probably surprise the vendors themselves what they could accomplish by pooling their resources to build a market. All it takes is the vendors making the effort to make it happen.
Ownership would make each vendor take more pride in their stalls and surroundings instead of the “tragedy of the commons”, or put another way, living off the state, that exists today.
That way, the country’s tax dollars can be used to pay down the debt and more. Maybe the tax burden on Bahamians can even be reduced?
Frankly, that’s the only sensible solution I see.
How about you?
I have a feeling that this will not be a popular idea but I believe it is a great one. It makes me wonder why someone has not thought of this before.
Sid
Thanks very much Dr. Sweeting.
As someone pointed out in a private e-mail, when all the vendors were artisans etc the government could justify providing the premises using the old infant industry argument, which we know is an economic fallacy any way, but a politically useful tool.
That has changed, and most vendors are simply retailers of imported goods I am told.
The point the vendors should note is that if they own it, the government won’t be in a position to move them at their whim. They will be responsible for their own destiny!
I’m convinced they could make it work. They are a talented bunch and have children that could provide sound financial advice to boot.
What’s taken them so long?
Amen Rick. In a free market, this should happen. Along with Bahamas Air, ZNS etc. As a tax payer, I am sick & tired of all the Freebies” for people that can do better for themselves. This is a very big problem in the Bahamas. If we stop depending on the Government for everything, the more power we have, the less power the politicians have !
I read with interest your view on a solution to a dire problem.
There is little doubt in my mind that the vendors could take up the initiative.
The problem is that the “powers that be” would not want to lose control of that entity.
It amazes me how resistant people are to change, even if it is in their own best interest.
Let’s see if any one would take the bait.
Look. Just because they have family or kids who may be well off, thanks to the good upward policies for Bahamians implemented by both governments, does not mean that their kids are entitled to build them a straw market. Or, for that matter, is that anyone’s business who their families are.
With that, at least half of the straw vendors “in case you did not know” are new young men and women, who took over the trade or are endeared to the straw work. Not that you should know any of this, but, just a little snipit before you ask “straw vendors”, to go about “getting into the free market” (heheheheh)to buy a new lot in the most expensive commerical area in the country.
I think you see where we are going with this…..
If not, why don’t the big owners of the big business in this country, pool together, “since it is fair for you to ask for other people in on this, since you made reference to their kids” and buy the property for the straw vendors and get it over with!?!
I will wait to see this…..
Dear Bill:
Thanks for the comment.
The point I made was that the income from the straw vendors helped them put their children through higher education so I am sure they could raise the funds to pull off the purchase of the property – even if government gives it to them at a concessionary rate.
I think it was the web site that could be written by Fred Mitchell that made a similar observation as you.
For the sake of clarity I will restate my point: The vendors are at the mercy of the government with the present arrangement. If they owned it, the government would have no say as to where they move to or the accomodations they get.
As for upward policies – subsidies are not upward policies – they encourage dependence on the politicians. Maybe you are comfortable with that. I am not.
Here we go again Bill, something for nothing, back to the old Pindling syndrome !
Eeehhh….Rick, I think the issue of whether or not they were put through straw vending dollars is half true, to say the very best about it. Some of them, in fact, most of them did not go off at all. With that, ones who had one or two kids, got their kids a better start, but, does not mean that the money was there to give them a great start; or, if they decided to buy the straw market property, means they have the money to take away from their families, to actually undertake such a venture.
I don’t think just saying “they had the money to send their kids to school” speaks the total truth to the issue. Which kids, how much did straw work help, how many kids, was in fact straw vending money etc…I think you see where I am going with this.
You are right however, to say that if they bought the land, they would not be under the influence of anyone government. But, “hehehehhe” how do you know they have the money for THAT!?!?
I think you overstate the money in which straw vendors make, because you relate that to them being able to send kids off to school. Sending kids to school is something that they are supposed to do, but, in the case of Mr. Wilson and many others, scholarships and the like played a heavy part in their development as well. I think we need to look at the situation in totality, and not because “they sent kids off to school, so they must have money”.
I think you see where I am going with this….
p.s.
Rick,
Your welcome, and I love reading the blogs, even though I get piss red when I see something I don’t like.
Keep posting.
Bill.
Thanks for taking the time to follow up Bill.
Maybe I do overstate the money straw vendors make, but as long as we keep making excuses to be wards of the state little will change.
If the straw market is viable, the investment will pay for itself, would it not?
Also, my understanding is that one would be surprised to know the assets of some of the straw vendors. Large houses, houses on rent etc etc.
If the policy of building a straw market is so great for the country, why doesn’t the governemnt build other retail stores?
Also, I am made to understand no rent is paid for the space.
I’m sorry, I can’t justify spending your tax dollars like that.
Don’t get mad at the blogs, just add a comment and we can discuss it.
Well, the case is more often NOT than actualy DO, in regards to making fantastic salaries. With that, some of these people work two or three jobs and have asue draws as well as other things to do; even before we start talking about how much they are in debt. This is not something you have to hear, this is something that if you go and look, and see for yourself, you would see the situation on the ground.
I see the same thing, especially noting what the straw vendors do for the tourism product downtown, in spending tax dollars to at least give them the space they were granted in good faith by the government; the same type of space a Sol Kerzner or any other development as of late, got in basic good faith dirt cheap from the Government.
I think we have no need to beat up on some old ladies, or some down-trodden out of luck post teenage woman, who just wants to make some money, and help us to make money in the process.(whether they know it or not)
I urge again, for all big business, the families of the straw vendors and the businesses downtown, to see the need and help to finance the project. If the big business, does not answer the call and work towards that, I can not take any other call aside from government assistance-to a space they had in the first place due to government grace-serious at this time or any other time.
Fair play and fair call is what it is.
p.s.
I do not get angry at the blogs, just piss red at some of the things I see sometimes. Have no fear Rick…I sleep sometimes.
Welcome back Bill:
It is not in my interest (not that I am big business) to get into a losing proposition.
If the private sector owned the straw market the vendors would have to pay rent and utilities or not have space.
Your argument is in support of infant industries – producers. You should ask yourself how many of the vendors still make the goods they sell.
The majority of vendors are simply importers and retailers just like other businesses.
That is not the intent of the straw market is it?
Can you expand on your comment about what the straw market does for our tourist product please? I’m not sure what you mean.
Have you seen the place in recent years? Have you walked through as if you were a tourist? Have you surveyed the tourists as they leave?
It is quite a different picture that you paint from what I am made to understand.
No problem Rick…
1st. The straw market being built is not about winning or losing. It is about providing a space for people to make some money. If the place had not caught a fire, they would still be there.
2nd. If the private sector owned it, it would have been a much different scenario; but, they do not. And the government, like it how does with many cultural and social goods, provide help and assurance for such a centure. You do realize the straw market is a cultural icon?
3rd. I am not even going to get into infant industry, industrial policy blah blah blah. However, as I said, the straw market is a cultural icon if in fact it is not THEE cultural icon in regards to tourism. With that, many of them do make their own products, along with having support from compaies like Junkanoo tricks etc…Regardless, they sell and import, but, allot of the goods and still a huge portion are hand made in the Bahamas. Now, if you want to purge all importing straw vendors, I would have no argument there.
Well, the main draw down town is the straw market. It has been getting a bad rep, because since it burned down, they have been “by their own fault, by not comming together on an agreement for their own selves” found a way to get it back to a decent structure where we all can be proud of. The people see this contraption of a straw market, and want to puke; so do I. It is NOT the straw market of old, and the tourists as well as I am dissapointed.
So, rebuild the Bahamian cultural icon. Put out the false vendors, or make them pay extra for their space. And give downtown Nassau it’s charm and main attraction. You can not argue, that even though there are other issues regarding our low tourism numbers, they have to coincide with the straw market being out of commission for so long.
Just ponder that for a second…
Cultural icon? Spare me.
Decline in tourists as a result of the straw market burning? Now there’s a leap.
Do you know how many people in the market actually make their goods and how many import goods for resale? That would be a revealing study.
There was an interesting article in The Tribune this morning with a vendor complaining that certain vendors were renting their booths to Haitian and Jamaican immigrants.
Now that’s our culture right?
It is a cultural icon, so to is the dundas centre for performing arts, the adastra gardens, clifton cay or guana cay. LOL…
The drop in tourists, have been seen with the downing of the straw market; you have seen it yourself. While other factors, as I said, have been seen with tourism drop off’s as well, however, tourist’s have not been happy with what they saw at the straw market (something you said yourself). And, something which was heralded as the site to see in the Bahamas.
I bet you don’t know how many make, or, import their goods either. However, I know many straw market vendors, plus, I know how many buy their goods locally from the “new industry” junkanoo and straw works; which has been doing ok and growing slightly, despite the straw market being in shambles.
There is allways an interesting article in the Tribune, hehehehehehhe, however, the enforcement of the laws and codes is a separate issue. There are illegals cleaning our yards, working at gas stations, working at warehouses, etc etc….I think you see where I am going with that one.
In any case, the straw market is a cultural institution, tied into the tourism product. Has been and allways will be, regardless of them going through this rough patch as it is. Trying to put a business twinge to it, confuses the issue of what we had it there for in the first place.
Thanks Bill:
I think we have exhausted this one as we are now repeating ourselves.
I obviously want straw vendors to take responsibility for themselves and you want more government dependency and “never the twain shall meet”.
It’s time to move on to some of the other blogs that make you get piss red.
We are not going in circles, because I think by now, you see the importance of the straw market as a cultural institution, rather than just a money market venture. It is not a market strategy, but a dediction to our cultural icon and heritage.
It is what it is. In addition to this, they are not depending on government, they want re-built what was destroyed by fire; that being the cultural icon which is the straw market. Itis not a matter of depending, it is a matter of doing what is morally right.
The thing that gets me is, how come that place was not insured? With that, how much does it take to put up a roof and a few walls!?!?
It should not take anymore than a few million to say the very least. It should have been built, or, construction started. That is one thing, that can not be explained to me by the government. But, to sit here and say it is not a cultural icon, voids this conversation of any truth about why it should be re-built hand by hand by the government; even before we look into who is exactly in the market.
p.s.
Piss red is a euphemism to say the very least in regards to things I see from Bahamians in regards to the internet. I see that you get incensed with “supposedly” PLP type mentality in regards to EVERYTHING; you and the contributors to this blog. hehehehe…
We all have our issues.
Sorry Bill. I do not see the importance of the straw market. There may be a need for crafts people to have a proper place from their own resources to display the products they make, but an entire market, provided from taxpayer dollars? I cannot disagree more.
Should government build an office for the Nassau Institute? We serve a vital interest to society.
Of course they should’nt build an office for us, but it illustrates my point.
No government buildings are insured from what I can find out.
Don’t forget, very few, if any of the vendors had the goods they lost in fire insured.
The point is it takes a few million dollars of other peoples money to build them a new building. And, government has no money unless it takes it from the people first.
It seems you have a vested interest in having the market built. Is that the case?
By the way, you do not build a structurte and then determine who/what goes into it.
If you said I get incensed by government involvement in far too muuch that goes on I would agree with you. That includes the FNM or the PLP. Visit the On Second Thought category of this blog. Those columns were written when the FNM were in power the first time 1992 – 2002.
If you get piss red regarding the things you see from Bahamians on the Internet, why don’t you start your own blog?
My apologies for you Rick.
Figures. hehehehehe…..
However, I like to respond to blogs, whether they be Bahamian or not.
Keep up the good works.
p.s.
I never said I didn’t have a blog!
Blogs are so informative where we get lots of information on any topic. Nice job keep it up!!