I was perusing the online Observer and read this article which really made me sad thinking of people desperate for work and really want to share in the profits being made by the cruise ships..and if I read it right..over a thousand people are applying for basically 75 vending slots..
Vendors rush Falmouth
Nearly 1,000 register to vend in cruise ship town
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — THE overwhelming response from vendors wanting to ply their wares in Falmouth on 'ship days,' appear to have left the Trelawny Parish Council in a quandary.
Last month, the council embarked on a drive to register vendors, who want to sell craft items in the historic town, after reports surfaced that cruise passengers were allegedly being harassed by persons in the town.
But yesterday, chairman of the Trelawny Parish Council Colin Gager said almost 1,000 vendors have responded to the registration exercise, which was conducted over a four-day period.
"We are overwhelmed by the number of venders who want to sell craft items and at this point we are not sure how we are going to accomodate all of them," said Gager, who is also the Mayor of Falmouth.
He said he will be meeting with the executive of the Trelawny Art and Craft Vendors Association tomorrow, in an effort to determine the way forward.
The council had planned to allow between 20 and 25 vendors to vend in Water Square on a rotation basis, while roughly 50 would be allowed on the pier on a cruise ship's arrival.
Gager said that the applications received were being processed.
"Right now were are carrying out background checks on them and those who are not trained by TPDCo (Tourism Product Development Company) will be offered training," he told the Observer West.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/westernnews/Vendors-rush-Falmouth_8754073#ixzz1LrYb5YIc