Illegal street vendors setting up makeshift markets near labour camps are being removed as part of a tough crackdown.
The Southern Municipality and the Southern Governorate Police Directorate yesterday raided a market in Ras Zuwayed (Lahsy) following a tip-off and seized fruit, vegetables and fish on sale.
Vehicles used to transport the items were also confiscated by municipal inspectors and policemen.
Area MP Bader Al Tamimi has, however, called for inspections throughout the year as he believes more illegal vendors would take their place within a few months.
“Most of the street sellers operating in the makeshift market flee before municipal inspectors and policemen raid the place, even if it means leaving behind their items or vehicles,” he said.
“It is a network of illegal vendors who target labour camps that are far away from civilisation like Ras Zuwayed and even if 10 of them are caught, sentenced and deported, others take their place in two to three months.
Activities
“Those who manage to escape, and are not reported by others during interrogation, move their business to Hidd, Hamala or Salmabad that are notorious for such activities.”
Mr Al Tamimi, a former municipal council chairman, said the municipality and police have already been urged to act without waiting for tip-offs.
“Inspections should be continuous; officials should monitor such makeshift markets every week, if not every day,” he explained.
“As a senior municipal inspector pointed out in a video from Ras Zuwayed, the food items displayed are unfit for consumption.
“There has to be a hunt for criminals behind the supply of such foodstuff before it ends up poisoning people to death.”
The GDN last month reported that officials removed stalls set up by illegal vendors in Sa’sa Avenue and Shaikh Hamad Avenue in the Capital Municipality.
The Southern Municipal Council had earlier urged the government to keep a close eye on the illicit activities of expatriates by placing police patrols and authorised inspectors across industrial areas.
Action has also been called by councillors, who are concerned about the growing numbers of illegal barbers and masseurs allegedly offering their services at worksites, labour accommodations and nearby facilities.
“The other issue is with illicit salon and massage services,” said council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif, “with sexual services continuing to be an issue during weekends and public holidays.”
Councillors claimed they continuously receive reports of workers gambling and drinking alcohol in the open, alongside illegal street vendors selling clothes, vegetables, fish and other products.
According to them, most of the incidents occur in constituency eight, which covers Askar, Jaw, Awali, Ras Zuwayed (Lahsy), northern Alba, and parts of Sitra and Ma’ameer industrial zones, that are set away from commercial and residential areas.
“Most of the labourers now live in ‘No Man’s Land’ without the necessary services being made available,” said Mr Abdullatif.
“This has fed the appetite of greedy expats who want to make easy money by setting up illegal stalls, with disregard to the provision of hygiene or cleanliness.”
Mr Abdullatif said installing surveillance cameras would ensure discipline in industrial areas.
“Crimes disrupt work and spread insecurity and discomfort amongst peaceful workers who are here to make a living,” he said.
“Those planning or intending to commit a crime would think twice before going ahead if they knew they were being monitored.”
The GDN earlier reported last year that several food vendors, tailors and barbers had set up operations offering services and goods at industrial areas.
A haircut was a snip at 500 fils and clothes were being sold for between 100 fils and BD3.
Councillors claimed at the time that ‘semi-nude and fully naked men’ had been seen staggering around or sleeping in the open, transport services were being offered for prostitution, and cheap quality sexual enhancers and lubricants were on sale with a rise in cases of immoral acts taking place.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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