The Dili Municipal Authority (AMD) plans to set up fixed sites for street vendors who have been selling goods in public spaces in the capital, Dili. The initiative aims to better organise informal business activities and improve urban order.
The President of the Dili Municipal Authority (PAM-Dili), Francisco dos Santos, said that currently many street vendors sell on the roads, especially on footpaths and in public areas, affecting traffic flow and the use of public spaces by the community.
“We already have a plan to organise these vendors so they can sell their goods in designated locations that we will set up. We know that vendors have been selling on the streets, and although authorities sometimes remove them and confiscate their goods, they continue selling.
We cannot simply blame them, but we must also find ways to organise them properly so they can sell their goods,” he said in Cristo Rei, Dili.
He explained that this measure is not intended to prevent street vendors from their livelihoods, but rather to better organise them so they can continue earning a living in a more orderly environment.
“We will prepare these locations in public gardens, but they must be regulated so everything is organised. All relevant parties must be involved, for example those selling food, AIFAESA must carry out inspections to ensure the places are clean and the food is safe. These are the things we will implement,” Francisco said.
He added that this organisation is very important to ensure Dili becomes a clean, orderly and comfortable city for the community and that through this measure, PAM-Dili also aims to create a better business environment for small vendors.
He also urged vendors to cooperate with authorities and respect the rules and guidelines that will be established.
On the other hand, a street vendor who has been selling in Dili, Albino dos Santos, said they are ready to cooperate with PAM-Dili and comply with the rules, and hope the plan will be implemented soon so they can continue their activities under better conditions.
“If there is a specific place for us to sell, we will feel more comfortable because we can sell safely and not worry when authorities come to carry out inspections,” Santos said.He added that with designated selling areas, they hope business activities can run more smoothly without having to move from place to place.
