Please Do Not Leave Our Children Hungry! – Street Traders Held Demonstration in Reply to the Decision of the City Council
November 4, 2010
Manon Bokuchava
On November 3, street traders held protest demonstration in Rustavi. They protested the decision of the City Council to ban street trading near the territory of the so-called Istanbul in 12th micro-district of Rustavi.
“We are not standing in the middle of the street. We do not block traffic movement. What they offer to us it absurd. They tell us to go to the market. There are no places there. Everything is sold out. So, if we go there we will have to pay double fees – one to the market administration and second for the owner of the counter. Here we earn money for the food and medicines for our families. The city government shall take our situation into consideration. We urge them not to leave our children hungry,” said street trader Nazi Khunchua.
The place, where about 70 street traders sell their products, is not located in the middle of the street. It is between the buildings without function and several shops. It is sort of open market where food products are not sold.
“They came and told us to stay here only for the next seven days. We agree to pay fees for this place,” said street trader Bezhan Labadze.
The people are trading in the street in several places in Rustavi. Most part of them has status of socially disabled. Their only income is from trading in the street.
Although the Rustavi City Council made decision to ban the street trading, there are no alternative spaces created to offer to these people.
“The concrete places shall be allocated for street trading and all necessary measures shall be taken for it,” this is the official directive issued by the head of the city council Kakha Gurgenidze to the City Mayor. The text was written in the resolution on the regulation of street-trading in the city.
Although Gurgenidze’s order has not been executed yet, the street traders are not allowed to continue their activities.
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