Crab vendors stalls demolished - Occupants say it has nothing to do with royal visit

Eleven-year-old Ranchi Edwards has asked his aunt, Shana-Kay Palmer, to capture a video of Prince William and his wife, Kate, if the royal couple passes Heroes Circle when they visit the island for three days, starting tomorrow.

"Use yuh phone and make a video fi mi nuh please. Mi wah see dem, "pleaded Edwards, a student of Allman Town Primary School. He told THE STAR that he read about the couple and the Queen of England, and would want to get a glimpse of the royals.

His aunt, while making him no promises, said that she will try to capture the moment if the opportunity presents itself. Palmer, a crab and soup vendor, said she is hoping that William, the duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, will stop at one of their stalls and get a taste of their offerings.

"Mi excited bad and mi would want them fi stop here so and drink a cup of soup, eat a crab and roast corn with coconut. Barrack Obama never stop but mi would love if them stop. Even if they don't, we love and welcome dem same way," she said.

Palmer is one of several vendors who watched yesterday as their stalls were being demolished by the authorities. The demolition exercise brought back memories of the 2015 presidential visit of then US president Barrack Obama, but unlike the seven years ago when they were faced with trepidation, this time around the vendors look on with expectation. They told THE STAR that they will be given brand new stalls in coming weeks

Kay said that when Obama visited she and other vendors were pushed back 10 metres from where they would normally sell, which caused them to temporarily lose some customers.

"When Obama did fi pass it did rough for us because we did push back. We a get lick down now, but is for a good cause. It has nothing to do with the royal visit because is from last year we were told that we getting new stall," Kay said.

"A 35 years now mi a sell out here and mi more than glad fi it. A long time we a get promise say we a guh get new stall, but it finally a happen now and we glad," Kay said.

Nadine Francis and other vendors are showering the authorities with praises for their upcoming facelift.

"Mi really glad this a happen man. A long time we a sell out here, enuh, from mi very young, and to see dis happening now is a blessing for us. ... Tuesday now mi just hope William dem will stop and taste a corn and crab soup, and see what it is like," she said.