The San Pedro Town Council is asking craft vendors to move off the beach.

Jorge Aldana reporting…
 “Ask tourist and they will tell you that they get better deals purchasing souvenirs from vendors on the beach and street sides. It’s a style that is unique to the island and is the livelihood of many artisans. However, the beachside craft vendors and wood carvers were given until yesterday to move from the beach. The order came from the San Pedro Town Council and is now being enforced by the Tourism Police Officers who gave two options; move voluntarily or they will be removed by force.   
The unpopular decision taken by the municipality is not taken lightly by the craft vendors and wood carvers who have been using the beach for years to market their crafts to the tourists. According to the beachside vendors, they were informed by the tourism police officer that they must leave the beach and relocate elsewhere. The big question is; relocate where? One such beachside craft vendor affected is Sherlet Castro."

Sherlet Castro -  Beachside Craft Vendor
“Last week Thursday, one of the police came and told me that we have to come off the beach in one week’s time.  Why?  He did not have a reason why because the Mayor does not want us on the beach. I said okay and you have to get out your trade licence, trade licence is no problem but where are you going to sell?  Where will you sell your products.  They want us to go to the park when the park is already full."

Jorge Aldana - Reporter
Did you go to Town Council?

Sherlet Castro     - Beachside Craft Vendor
“I went there and saw the one who give out the trade licence and he told me if I sold in front of a restaurant I need permission from them so I could sell in front of their place.  I don’t know why because that is no problem for me to sell on the beach and collect my money. That is what we do to sell our children to school."

Jorge Aldana - Reporter
For what reason?  You are in a public ground, why should you get a letter from these businesses?

Sherlet Castro - Beachside Craft Vendor
“Well I don’t know why they want to that.  One of my friends told me when he went they told him it would take one month to get the licence but you can’t sell within that month.  How will your family eat?”

Like Castro, the other artisans echoed the same sentiment. Castro says that while she has been selling on the beach for 3 years, her common law husband has been on the beach for almost 20 years. Castro says that she will not be move off the beach because she has no other place to go. Sherlet Castro is one of almost 30 vendors scattered along different areas on the beach.   The Administrator of the San Pedro Town Council Patricia Tillett told Love News that she is not authorized to speak to the media and referred us to the Mayor. Despite multiple requests for an interview, Mayor Elsa Paz refused to grant us an interview. Listeners may recall that Mayor Paz told the media earlier this year that she will not grant anymore media interviews for the rest of her term in office. When we checked today, the vendors were determined and were still on the beach.”

LOVEFM