Vending Revamp in St. John’s: Street Sales Prohibited Amid Mixed Reactions

Published April 22, 2025, 1:54 PM

Market Street after SJCD overhaul has been implemented (file photo)

The St. John’s Development Corporation (SJDC) has officially begun its phased overhaul of street vending in the capital, implementing a ban on street sales in designated areas, particularly along Market Street and Lower All Saints Road, near the VC Bird Bust.

On Tuesday morning, the area experienced an uninterrupted flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, a noticeable change as vendors who once operated from the sidewalks have now been relocated to the Market Complex.

While many pedestrians have welcomed the transformation, appreciating the cleaner and more navigable sidewalks, the response from vendors has been more divided. Several have voiced their discontent with their new locations, describing them as inadequate for their business needs.

Vendors are urging the SJDC to address their concerns and make adjustments to the current arrangement, seeking a resolution that accommodates both their livelihood and the community’s desire for improved public spaces.

As this initiative progresses, the SJDC is expected to consider feedback from both pedestrians and vendors to strike a balance in the revitalization efforts.

This story was first published by Antigua News on April 22, 2025: antigua.news/2025/04/22/vending-revamp-in-st-johns-street-sales-prohibited-amid-mixed-reactions. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (11)

Anonymous April 22, 2025, 3:14 PM

Good job! Our vendors are not infants wgo have to have their thinking done for them and their hands held as they are led around! Why can’t vendors FOR EXAMPLE, pool their resources and rent space where it can be found in order to carry on with their business? Do these vendors even pay a licence to vend? Do they pay SS, Medical Benefits or Education Levy? Time to end this yesteryear policy and bring them in line with current economic trends. How the trend continues.
Reply
- Unruly One April 22, 2025, 4:34 PM
  
  Very valid question.. Well done fellow commenter. We forget at times these are adults.
  Reply
Teacher for Life April 22, 2025, 7:31 PM

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL IMPROVEMENT!!! Progress looks good on us Antigua
Vendors need to remain in their designated market area and make it do what it do!!! I can walk freely on sidewalks now and not have to worry about being knocked down by a vehicle or bumping into other people. I LOVE IT!!!
Reply
Antigua Surf April 22, 2025, 10:17 PM

I’ve never seen market street so beautiful!! This is a great clean up!
Reply
Rhea April 22, 2025, 10:18 PM

Why just this picture tho? I’m quite sure they were suppose to be located inside and they are some people who is between both heroes park and the market building
Reply
Devorn Carter April 23, 2025, 6:22 AM

The government finally took a stand for cleanliness and order. St. John’s has looked like chaos for too long. Sidewalks are for walking, not for blocking traffic with stalls. This is a step forward in modernizing our capital. Tourists don’t want to wade through cluttered sidewalks. Neither do locals. If we’re serious about economic growth, we have to start with infrastructure and organization. The Market Complex is there for a reason. let’s use it.
Reply
food4thought April 23, 2025, 6:24 AM

Clean streets are great, but vendors are right to feel frustrated if the new space isn’t working. SJDC needs to be flexible, maybe reconfigure the Market Complex or create pop-up zones where foot traffic is high.
Reply
Sebastian Toomes April 23, 2025, 9:50 AM

Why is Kimba allowed to operate his business on the pavement at the junction of Redcliffe and Cross Streets???
The law states that the pavements are for the free flow of pedestrians and only the ” police” are legally allowed to block the pavements.
The same applies to “Cones” blocking the street for person’s to park their motor vehicles..again the law states ” only the Police are allowed to legally do this”
Reply
Juju Bee April 23, 2025, 10:00 AM

I didn’t know on what side if the street to drive on Tuesday cause ild gotten so used to driving in the middle of the road I love the look of st John’s now
Reply
Tired of BS April 23, 2025, 10:53 AM

Are they also going to tell the many business owners that have their merchandise spilling to the sidewalk to take back inside the sacks of dog food, the fans and buckets???
Reply
Love me jerk chicken April 23, 2025, 4:56 PM

Oh dear! Can someone please tell me where to find my jerk chicken lady, with the new changes 😫? I approve the changes, but please don’t send her too far for me walk. Thank you for cleaning the streets and making it easier to maneuver between pedestrians, stalls and traffic.
Reply

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