Vendors’ behaviour worry businesses

By Julia Jamila Werner 13 January 2017, 12:00AM

The behaviour of street vendors on the streets of Apia is cause for concern, especially for businesses in the Central Business District.

In light of videos showing the vendors beating up innocent members of the public and fighting among themselves, some of the shop owners have expressed concerns that one day someone will be killed.

This is why they want the government to do something about these vendors now – if possible remove them completely.

About the fight that was captured on video, Salelavalu Tanielu, said it was started because one of the vendors was caught stealing from a shop.

But it’s not the first time they have been caught stealing.

Mrs. Tanielu who works for Farmers Store told the Samoa Observer shopkeepers are always on the alert when they are around. 

“They have become very bad with stealing,” she said.

What’s more, the vendors have become very aggressive and rude.

“Everyday they come and say really bad things to us and to members of the public,” she said.

“They have become very rude. Their behaviour shows they are not being taught well at home.”

Mrs. Tanielu believes the parents are to blame.

“If the children become used to the bad company, of course they will continue to misbehave. They act like they are the only ones in the public.“

Other businesses in the area expressed similar concerns.

“I allow them to sell but once they start asking the customers for food I will tell them to leave,” says a worker at Todah Café at the S.N.P.F Plaza.  

“They always tease people, almost everyday. They touch things and they like teasing people and the workers and then they run away.”

One day, the worker said he confronted the mother of some of the children.

But she simply did not care at all.

At McDonald’s Restaurant, it’s the same problem.

An official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they are fed up with the behaviour. 

“It seems that despite all the efforts of sending them home there has been no improvement. 

“We do not allow them to sell in here but this is not what the reality shows. We seem to be powerless. The worrying thing for us is that it’s increasing. 

“And we see that it’s becoming more and more obvious.”

By Julia Jamila Werner 13 January 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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