A Government Minister is encouraging Barbadians to respect the invaluable contribution of vendors to the economic activity.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Empowerment, Patrick Todd made this appeal last Saturday, during a brief handing over ceremony of a banner to officials from the Barbados Association of Retailers and Vendors (BARVEN).?? It was held at its outdoor market on Cheapside, The City, to highlight the upcoming United Nations Stand Up Take Action Against Poverty campaign slated for Friday, September 17, to Sunday, September 19. ????????

Minister Todd added: "I would take this opportunity to invite all Barbadians to respect the important role played by the vending community in our country.?? It is not fair for these persons to be marginalised in our society and treated as though they are nuisances."

While acknowledging that not everyone would be employed in the private or public sectors, he commended the vendors for "risking their limited resources to invest in these businesses to provide a legitimite source of income for themselves and their families".

The Minister of State also spoke about the grant funding facility that was available through the Division of Trade’s Business Development Unit to assist other Barbadians in owning their own businesses. "While the grant is not given in cash, it is used for the procurement of machinery and other equipment that is necessary for the start-up of that enterprise," Mr. Todd said.

In a similar vein, Government’s Advisor on Poverty, Undene Whittaker, highlighted the importance of retailing as the impetus to alleviating the island’s poverty.?? "We see vending as a way of alleviating certain pockets of poverty in society and we are happy to be on board with this venture," she added.

BARVEN’S Business Development Officer, Richard Scantlebury, described the venture as the vehicle to "ensuring that vending remains on the economic and commercial landscape of Barbados".??jwilson@barbados.gov.bb

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