FOOD TRUCK OPERATORS IN BASSETERRE WILL SOON BE RELOCATED TO NORTH INDEPENDENCE SQUARE STREET  

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, July 20, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is currently expediting its preparations for an area along North Independence Square Street that will temporarily house a number of food truck vendors that once operated on the streets of Basseterre. 

Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris led a small delegation on a tour of the designated area earlier today (Tuesday, July 20). Accompanying the prime minister were the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Andrew Skerritt; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Ron Collins; and Chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Street Vending, Mr. Austin Farier. 

The team was updated on the progress of the work being carried out there to date by Urban Development Officer, Mr. Rhon Boddie. 

So far, the overgrown lot at North Independence Square Street has been cleared of bushes and debris. Additional grooming of the trees, sanitization of the area, fixing of surrounding walls, installation of a bathroom facility, the erection of proper lighting and leveling off the ground will take place over the next few days. 

Once completed, it is expected that the area will house a minimum of six large food trucks around the perimeter of the lot with seating accommodations in the center. 

This move by the Government follows a decision to halt all street vending activity in the city center. Over the years, street vending has become a major area of concern as pedestrians were forced to walk in the busy roads as the number of vendors utilizing the sidewalks grew exponentially.  

It is anticipated that all preparatory work at the North Independence Square Street location will be completed within a matter of days, paving the way for food truck vendors to commence operations there by the end of this month.