A loudspeaker blares out the message that “boutique clothing for RD$20 and RD$30 is available all along Duarte Avenue and at the corner of Paris and Duarte Avenue. Kiosks and tables show pretty much the same merchandise and these tables are all over the sidewalks and even in the streets. But not only clothing, but also fruits, staples, spices, pots and pans, juices, the famous “mamajuana” jugs, beauty creams are there for the thousands of pedestrians who pass through daily.
Mayor David Collado announced recently a cleanup of the area would start “soon,” but no date has been set. This particular corner, Duarte and Paris, was left behind during efforts some ten years ago to reduce the overwhelming presence of street vendors on sidewalks of the city’s commercial district. People will recall the efforts that made a big difference on streets like Caracas, Barahona, Ravelo, Mexico as far as Mella and even Chinatown.
The mayor’s announcement was met with appreciation by some of the street vendors, including Pedro Diaz, who has worked the streets for some 40 years, and now has a little “kiosk” that serves as a cafeteria. Diaz began his career on the streets selling cassette tapes, CDs and popsicles. His sister Martha has a little hut next door and sells creams and spices as well as mamajuana. Both are right on the corner.
Another vendor is Luis Garcia who is located a few meters away on Paseo de Duarte, an area that was remodeled back in 2008 at a cost of RD$277 million. Pedro and Martha told reporters from the Diario Libre that nobody has bothered them since Roberto Salcedo was mayor, and that they don’t pay anything for occupying this public space. They say that they pay the National District city government some RD$600 each month, and nobody bothers them.
Luis Garcia told the reporters that a second Street Vendor’s Plaza is well under way over at the area by Jacinto de la Concha and Santiago Mota, but nothing has been said as to when the vendors at Duarte and Paris will be relocated.
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Diario Libre
14 January 2019
