According to the National Association of Street Vendors of India,"street vendor" is defined as a person who offers goods or services for sale to the public without having a permanently built structure but with a temporary static structure or mobile stall ( or head-load). This picture was taken while driving along the roads of Port-of-Spain. I was surprised to see a doubles man in this part of Trinidad. Honestly, with all the local and foreign franchise available it was the last thing on my mind. What surprised me even more was the amount of customers present and enjoying the taste or our traditional "Doubles" not only Trinidadians but also foreigners.
But what do these street vendors contribute to our society? Most street vendors provide the main source of income for their households, bringing to their families and paying school fees for their children. These informal workers have strong linkages to the formal economy. Over half the Informal Economy Monitoring Study (IEMS) sample said they source the goods they sell from formal enterprises. Many customers work in formal jobs. They also keep the streets clean and safe for their customers and provide friendly personal services.
Street trade also adds to the vibrancy to urban life and in many places is considered a cornerstone of historical and cultural heritage. Yet street vendors face many challenges, are often overlooked as economic agents and unlike other businesses, are hindered rather than help by municipal policies and practices.
Roever, Sally. 2014. IEMS Sector Report Street Vendors. Web Accessed April 7, 2016. WIEGO.http://wiego.org/informal-economy/occupational-groups/street-vendors
National Association of Street Vendors of India-NASVI, Defining street vendors. Web Accessed April 7, 2016.http://nasvinet.org/newsite/defining-street-vendors/
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