Shop owners on Bay Street were hard at work this morning trying to replace windows, tiles and other areas on their storefronts damaged in a violent episode Wednesday night when police say Straw Vendors Association President Luke Small took matters into his own hands and damaged the showcases of over 20 downtown stores.
Business owners estimate that the rampage will cost them thousands of dollars in property damage alone, without factoring in the added costs of increased insurance premiums and lost business, as several shops remained closed after 11 am.
The majority of stores on the southern side of Bay Street between George Street and Frederick Street were damaged when police believe the association president took an instrument and damaged the storefronts reportedly in the ongoing protest against the placement of some straw vendors in front of the temporary market.
Officer in Charge of the Central Police Station, Superintendent Berkley Wright, told the Bahama Journal that Small was taken into police custody Wednesday night and remained at the Central Police Station today.
“The officers had a struggle trying to subdue him last night,” Superintendent Wright explained. “He had blood all over him, but eventually he was subdued and brought in.”
Superintendent Wright said Mr. Small will remain in custody while investigations continue to assess the degree of damage caused in order to determine what charges will be brought against him.
This morning, insurance loss adjustors were also on site assessing the damage caused to some of the businesses.
Brenda Cartwright, a supervisor at Crown Jewellers, said Wenesday night’s episode will only worsen an already-depressed sales environment downtown.
“It’s already slow on Bay Street and this is only going to make things worse because people may not even know that we are open with all the damage,” Ms. Cartwright said.
Many merchants today expressed great frustrations as a result of the rampage.
“I feel more frustrated than anything else,” said Neil Morrison, manager of Colombian Emeralds International.
Mr. Morrison said the added inconvenience and expense is not at all welcomed at this time.
He also questioned the motive behind the “mindless” act of violence.
“At the end of the day it didn’t achieve anything and it’s just wasted time and wasted money,” Mr. Morrison said. “I don’t know how the perpetrator feels about what he did, but whatever he was trying to accomplish he didn’t achieve it, did he?”
Recovery efforts from the episode also took place at the Candy Headquarters.
“I was disappointed and I was afraid because I didn’t know how bad the damage was,” said Yvonne Cartwright, store manager.
Mrs. Cartwright explained that she left her home around 9:30 Wednesday night to secure the property and examine the damage to the shop.
She added, “All I could think about when I was driving down was let me get down here as quickly as I can and see if they cleaned out the shop or what.”
“I was so worried,” she said.
Mrs. Cartwright estimated that over $300 worth of damage was caused to the shop.
By Darrin Culmer, The Bahama Journal
