Mauritius MP Ehsan Juman calls for compromise on street vendors
Labour Party MP Ehsan Juman urges a solution that balances vendors' right to work with public order after a police operation in Port-Louis.
Labour Party MP Ehsan Juman defended street vendors after a police operation on Desforges Street in Port-Louis on Wednesday, 11 November. Juman, who is currently abroad, said on his Facebook page on Thursday, 12 November, that he is following the matter closely and is calling for a solution that respects both the right to work and public order.
Juman said he had spoken by phone with the mayor and the Assistant Commissioner of Police for Port-Louis North about the operation. His aim, he wrote, is to avoid penalising people who depend on the daily trade for their livelihoods, while keeping the busy street safe and clear. He added that vendors who work all year should be allowed to work, but in an orderly and disciplined way.
The management of street vendors in the capital remains a sensitive issue, especially as the busy end-of-year shopping period approaches. Juman said he hopes common sense will prevail, favouring consultation over repression.
Why it mattersVendors who rely on the street for daily income face uncertainty over whether they can keep trading there during the busy end-of-year period.