Strong action has been vowed against rogue traders outside Jidhafs Central Market.
Describing the situation as a “ticking time bomb”, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry officials have pledged firm measures against traders who have illegally occupied public roads, set up makeshift kitchens using gas cylinders, and turned the area outside the market into a public dumping ground.
The ministry’s property and market management head Taha Zainaladdin made the announcement during a Capital Trustees Board meeting, where he detailed the government’s repeated, but unsuccessful, attempts to address the matter through dialogue and non-confrontational measures.
Mr Zainaladdin
“We have tried resolving this issue peacefully and repeatedly appealed to the traders to comply with the law, but they have refused to co-operate,” said Mr Zainaladdin.
He added that several of the traders, who sold fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and cooked food, actually hold licensed shops within the market premises, but prefer to operate outside illegally to sell to passing customers directly.
Makeshift shops
“Many of these traders have proper stalls inside, but choose to sell outside for greater visibility and access to motorists.
“Meanwhile, numerous stalls inside the market remain unoccupied, despite the extremely affordable rent,” he noted.
The situation, described by officials as increasingly dangerous and unsustainable, drew sharp criticism from members of the Capital Trustees Board.
The board’s services and public utilities committee chairwoman Huda Sultan issued a stark warning about the safety and public health hazards posed by the chaotic scene outside the market.
Ms Sultan
“This is a ticking bomb. The entrances and exits are blocked, and gas cylinders are being used openly on the road. This is a disaster waiting to happen,” she said.
Ms Sultan also called out the traders’ attempts to avoid accountability by using social media to criticise municipal inspectors when action is taken.
“Whenever fines are issued, the same traders go online and accuse inspectors of being inhumane. This, while the existing traders leave their licensed stalls empty and others refuse to rent available ones despite it being just BD40 per month,” she said.
“They just want to grab customers directly from their cars before those customers even get a chance to enter the market.”
Despite growing concern among municipal officials, the issue was also raised during Parliament’s weekly session on Tuesday.
Legislators called for a temporary halt to enforcement action against the traders, citing their livelihoods.
However, municipal authorities insist that enforcement is necessary to ensure safety, maintain cleanliness and restore order to the market space.
“We are not against traders earning a living, but this must happen in a regulated, safe environment that respects public space and the law,” said Ms Sultan.
Board chairman Saleh Tarradah said he was interested in a balanced approach to the situation.
Mr Tarradah, left, during the meeting
“There are violations, but we need to adjust approach without harming traders,” he said.
“Things are done in a wrong manner by traders, but that doesn’t mean we need to be stiff in issuing fines.
“Balanced solutions need to happen in which the interests of all parties are protected, respected and safeguarded.”
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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