Do more for market vendors
Dear Editor,
I was among a group of students pursuing the course, “Historical Landscape and Environmental History”, who visited the Coronation Market on March 13 as part of a “round town” field trip. The purpose of the visit to the market was to observe the use of a secular space. While shopping one could not help noticing that a number of children were sleeping in stalls. Outside the market my attention was drawn to the Darling Street Police Station and the old railway station.
How wonderful it would be if the train station could be converted into a Vendors’ Museum! We could have murals of market trucks depicting vendors and their produce. There could be a tribute to our farmers who work tirelessly to feed our nation. There could also be a memorial in honour of those like the Portland farmers who lost their lives on their way to the market in December 2008. A section could be designated for higglers who with pride and dignity spend all their working lives feeding their families from their labour at Coronation Market.
In the Vendors’ Museum could be virtual trains depicting former times when trains were the preferred means of transporting goods. Special programmes could be organised for the children in a homework centre and a recreational area. The infrastructure already exists for the Museum and the Darling Street Police could provide security. The University of the West Indies, the Institute of Jamaica and the Ministry of Agriculture could be collaborators on this project.
Our vendors do not know what it is to receive a pension after years of toil, or other benefits such as a meal allowance, travel allowance, uniform allowance and so on. All they know is their impact on the environment – the land. Jamaica should do more for our market vendors. Perhaps a percentage of fees charged to enter the museum could be used to provide some kind of welfare for retired farmers and vendors.
I wish to congratulate lecturer Dr Veront Satchell for his role in providing such practical experiences in Historical Landscape and Environmental History.
Joan Francis
University of the West Indies
Kingston 7
