PM Defends Efforts to Bring ‘Order’ to Street Vending Across Antigua
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended his administration’s efforts to regulate street vending and curb illegal dumping, arguing that the government’s push for public order is consistently undermined by the political opposition.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Browne said the government has taken steps to reorganize vending spaces, particularly along beaches and high-traffic commercial areas, to ensure safety, sanitation, and access for both locals and visitors. But he said each attempt to implement basic regulation is met with resistance. “Every time the government tried to bring some order to people vending indiscriminately and even dumping indiscriminately, the opposition trying to… undermine order,” he said.
The prime minister’s comments followed a wider conversation about the state of public spaces, including beaches where vendors have erected unapproved structures, blocked public access, and improperly disposed of waste. He argued that the government’s role is not to displace vendors but to create a cleaner, more professional business environment. He cited examples such as Darkwood Beach, where the government intends to clear the roadside and relocate vendors across the street. “If we say that the beaches should not be cluttered… what is wrong about that?” he said earlier in the programme.
Browne said the government has offered cost-free relocation options that still allow vendors to earn a living while preserving the country’s natural attractions. He accused the opposition of taking advantage of the situation by encouraging confrontation rather than helping solve long-standing issues of environmental degradation and unregulated business activity.
The prime minister argued that the public ultimately supports efforts to keep beaches clean and organized, particularly as tourism rebounds. He also linked vending issues to broader environmental enforcement, noting that illegal dumping, makeshift structures, and unsanitary waste disposal are increasingly affecting both rural communities and coastal areas.
Browne maintained that the government will continue to push ahead with its enforcement measures despite political pushback. He said the administration is committed to reducing roadside clutter, strengthening hygiene standards, and protecting the country’s most visited beaches from misuse.
“The issue is order,” Browne said, insisting that regulation benefits both vendors and the broader public. His administration plans to continue relocating unregulated stalls, removing illegal structures, and implementing targeted clean-up operations in the coming weeks.
