How are street vendors regulated? Suddenly I have someone selling coconuts outside my house, not downtown where the tourists are but in a residential neighbourhood. Can he do this? Can I freely tell him to move along?
Auntie’s answer: There are several departments potentially involved in answering various points that your question brings up. But first, if someone is on your property without your permission selling things, then you have the right to ask them to leave. Furthermore, according to a Department of Commerce and Investment (DCI) official, if your request is ignored, you can call the police to remove them from your land.
As for regulation, the coconut seller, if Caymanian, would not need a licence according to Section 3 of The Trade and Business Licensing (Amendment) Law 2017, which states that the law does not apply to “(b) Caymanians who produce and sell agricultural products or cottage industry products, including, for example, jams, jellies, heavy cakes, sauces and thatch work; and (ba) any Caymanian who is self-employed and who creates for sale artistic, dramatic, musical or literary works.”.
However, the DCI representative explained that if the vendor is on a public road “there is an issue as it relates to the laws of the National Roads Authority and whether permission would be granted by them”.
In addition, if the vendor is on any public property, the Lands and Survey Department first has to give permission for him to use the land before he can sell anything. The DCI official also pointed out that there may be other issues regarding contravention of planning laws related to advertising on the road/sidewalk or any structure that may be erected for purposes of selling.
The law mentioned in this column can be found on the CNS Library
As one of the property owners from whom these parasite STEAL the coconuts (and my limes and mangoes!), I’m not so inclined to be tolerant of such activities. I have taken to marking my limes with a small cut to prove they were stolen from my yard, especially when the thief tries to sell them back to me or my neighbors!
The idea that any fruits are “free for the taking” has got to stop, or I am going to cut down the trees. I can’t seem to benefit from them with all the thievery going on anyway. Last year I got only 10 mangoes off my tree the whole season!
Stop trying to stop cayman local business. Coporate clown
These pickers need ask the land owners first if they can get the nuts..etc…thats true …would help if CI Govt be more considerate of ripping the whole island with these high prices though.
Well most of them take the coconuts from private property, and rarely ask if they may. I live near town and had to chase one guy off my property four times before it was made clear to him not to come back. The coconuts he didn’t want where just left everywhere and when I asked him if one broke a window would be pay, you know the answer given. If they have an arrangement with a property owner that id great, but at the end of the day, if he falls out of the tree or damages something, who is getting sued?
Taking the coconuts is also theft in many instances.
Cayman is the most waste of an island in the world…every other island use coconut up before they dry up..except Cayman…which has been ruined by greedy western culture…one there will be none to pick and starvation , sickness will set in.
Oh, please, let they guy sell coconuts and find something else to complaint about. The guy is EARNING his money, let him be.
…and what are you doing with deez nuts??
I suspect he was there because of the “free” supply of coconuts to sell. I’m not sure how this works, but coconut sellers seem to think that coconuts everywhere are free for the picking.
@8:50 am Are you serious? They are FREE, but they require some labor to collect and efforts and patience to sell it. Well earned money. Instead of bit$ching about it, encourage more people to sell coconuts.
Some people use this as an excuse to watch people house and break into them. Mrs. Roberts gardner killed her. You can not be too careful.RIp E.
Instead of taking the coconuts off my tree without my permission, then selling the coconuts and using the money to buy groceries, wouldn’t it be easier just to go into your house and take your FREE groceries?
He’s on a public road right?!! OMG Leave the man alone! How is it bothering you? Granted, if he is on your property, fine, but that doesn’t sound like the issue. You just don’t like to see him near your house. Move to Camana Bay or a gated neighbourhood if you need that kind of security.
Pathetic