September 08, 2004
Straw Market Closed
Nassau Straw Market vendors received a further blow to their operations when it was announced, today, that the Market would be closed "indefinitely".
It has been three years, almost to the day, that the Straw Market on Bay Street burned down under curious circumstances. A crazed young man was brought to trial for arson, but the entire situation, especially the way it was handled, begs further investigation.
In a symphony of incompetence, performed by two different political administrations, there have been numerous plans and even more rumours as to what the fate of the vendors would be; when (if) a new market would be constructed, where it would be erected and how it would look.
Meanwhile, the vendors have been trying to sell their goods in a tacky, makeshift tent area, that resembles a US flea market, rather than a "world famous" Bahamian Straw Market.
Now, to add salt to the wound, the Market will be closed because the canvas covering was destroyed by hurricane Frances. It is hard to understand how that happened, seeing as there was more than a week available to remove the canvas prior to the storm's arrival. Which is what the government says they did.
But somehow, and nobody can explain how, the canvas was "damaged extensively". Did that happen during the removal of the canvas? Was it put back on too early? Was it stored in a place that got hit by the hurricane?
A date for re-opening the Straw Market was not immediately given. Some vendors were very upset by this and were voicing their concerns, rather loudly, to both news reporters and the Minister of Trade & Industry, Leslie Miller.
That's when Mr. Miller informed everyone that the canvas covering was, in fact, being repaired by two companies here in Nassau and that the market place would be operational within a "week, week-and-a-half".
Had that information been included in the original announcement it might have saved everybody a lot of stress and tension.
Posted by admin at September 8, 2004 08:47 PM