TEMPERS flared at Bahrain’s largest municipal council following allegations that the Northern Municipality was destroying food and fresh produce seized from wandering vendors, damaging their livelihoods.
The municipality, however, dismissed the claims as ‘baseless’, asserting that only produce sold by illegal expatriate vendors were confiscated and destroyed.
Northern Municipality director-general Lamya Al Fadhala ruled out damages for Bahraini vendors, asserting that no items were seized from them.
“We crack down on expatriate vendors and all produce – fruits, vegetables and meat – are destroyed, given the extraordinary circumstances imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic,” she told councillors.
“These vendors are violating the law. We confiscate their products as we don’t know where they are sourced from.
“It could pose a grave risk to health of residents and citizens and hence dumped in Askar landfill.”
Council’s technical committee chairman Abdullah Al Qubaisi, who made the accusations, claimed that the municipality had no right to clamp down on vendors.
He also said that such crackdowns required the involvement of several government entities.
“There is no difference between a Bahraini or an expatriate wandering vendor as both are fined for violations and their goods seized. However, there is no ministerial decision that allows this,” Mr Al Qubaisi claimed.
“Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf had earlier issued an edict that states that the mechanism must be organised.
“The municipality going forward with these inspections and seizures without other authorities such as the Health Ministry and the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) is incorrect.
“They should not investigate vendors’ status which is LMRA’s duty while destruction of food is the jurisdiction of the Health Ministry. The Municipality should not make such haphazard decisions.”
Mr Al Qubaisi also claimed that there was no legal standing for actions taken by the municipality with no official reports presented to the council as part of its regulatory duties.
“What they are doing is illegal and they are stealing the livelihoods of vendors,” he said.
“Instead of seizing items and distributing them through the food bank, Conserving Bounties, the municipality should develop storage areas, such as yards under their care for abandoned vehicles and scrap, to auction them off.”
However, Ms Al Fadhala brushed aside all criticisms asserting that the municipality was implementing all edicts and laws in place to create a safe and hygienic environment ‘within our jurisdiction and duties’.
She said reports were generated on a regular basis following any seizure or inspection with statistics available for councillors for review.
An extraordinary meeting will soon be held between the council’s technical committee, the Northern Municipality and the ministries of Health, Interior, Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning as well as the LMRA.
The GDN earlier reported that northern municipal councillors had unanimously approved a proposal to issue licences for vendors and allocate land for them to legally operate in residential areas.
The GDN also reported in April that only Bahrainis will be allowed to work as street vendors under new municipal rules.
This followed the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry designating a site in Manama for Bahraini street sellers on a trial basis.
The concept will be expanded across Bahrain in consultation with the three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board.
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