44 truckloads of waste from illegal Manama street vendors cleared

TDT | Manama

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Manama’s streets saw 44 truckloads of unlicensed vendor materials cleared in the first quarter of the year, council members heard during yesterday’s Capital Trustees Board session.

A detailed briefing laid out recent sweeps carried out in tandem with other bodies.

The aim was to rein in unlicensed selling and bring order to public spaces often blocked or cluttered by hawkers.

Khalifa Al Kaabi, Acting Director of Inspection, said clear rules are in place.

Safety rules

Only Bahraini citizens can apply for a street vending spot. They must be jobless, at least 21 years old, and follow safety rules when trading in the approved spots.

Yousif Al Bannai, Acting Head of Cleaning, said the issue of foreign hawkers remains stubborn, especially in busy parts of the capital.

Eleven sweeps were carried out between January and March, targeting hotspots like Shaikh Hamad Avenue, Sa’sa’a Avenue, and Zubara Avenue.

These efforts cleared dozens of lorry-loads of gear and rubbish.

An inspector brought over from Muharraq Municipality said several men had been caught selling fish on Sitra Island without a licence.

Fines of up to BD100 were handed out.

Lamya Al Fadhala, Acting Director General of the Capital Municipality, said any meat or vegetables taken from unlicensed vendors is thrown out. Some of it has expired, and the rest is simply unsafe to eat.

She urged Bahraini sellers to sort out their paperwork, follow health and safety rules, and stick to the town’s trading guidelines.