“Many vegetables are thrown away each day”

“My heart is bleeding. Months of hard work wasted. Blood, sweat and tears are required to cultivate vegetables and fruit and now we have to watch helplessly how huge quantities of vegetables and fruit are thrown away. Nobody thinks about us or presents a solution because the management team at the market has forgotten all about us and so has the government,” said a farmer who went to the city at 6 am to sell his products despite the ban. The farmer who explained that he and other farmers have no income and that all of their hard work ends up in garbage cans every day. “It is such a waste of good food while so many people go hungry in the country every day.” The farmers can’t sell their products to retailers because the Central Market Paramaribo has been closed for several weeks now. After the total lockdown was lifted a group of farmers decided to set up shop in the city at 6 am. They explain that they remain in the vicinity of the market for about an hour to sell whatever they can. “We know that it is not allowed and that we are taking a huge risk but we also need to put food on the table for our families. We have been suffering financial losses for the past 3 months and we are growing desperate. The police remove us every day but we keep trying to earn a little money.” The farmers are not the only ones who take risks because about half a dozen street vendors also assemble near the Central Market each day. Some of the street vendors display their products alongside the street without complying with the health rules and regulations. The police evicted a group of street vendors and farmers around 7 am on Wednesday.

“The market is still closed but the people are not allowed to sell their products alongside the street. The police officers have been instructed to evict them,” Chief Inspector Humphrey Naarden told Times of Suriname. Naarden explained that the police only issue a warning and that no other actions are taken.

“As long as the people follow the instructions of the police and pack up and leave there is nothing wrong. But if they offer resistance, the police will take action,” said Naarden who added that the people must come to realize that the market will remain closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The market is a crowded place which is why it would not be wise to let it open for business now. The authorities will announce soon when everything can return to normal but until then the people must think about their own health and safety,” said Naarden.