Golding, McKenzie lashed for operation

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, were miles away from downtown Kingston yesterday, but they still bore the brunt of the bashing from vendors angry over the decision of the police to clear the streets.

While the vendors were angry at the action of the police, most of their venom was aimed at Golding and McKenzie.

"Bruce, is this the change that we voted for?" shouted one vendor on West Queen Street yesterday afternoon.

"Bruce Golding ginnal we," added the vendor.

She was one of several vendors bearing placards critical of Golding, the member of parliament for West Kingston, and McKenzie, the councillor for the Tivoli Gardens division in the constituency.

The vendors claimed the police fired tear gas at them as they attempted to march to the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) offices on Church Street in downtown Kingston.

But this was not confirmed up to press time.

"Bruce have to find somewhere and put me because this could not be what me vote for him for," declared a vendor in the vicinity of Matthews Lane.

"Is not Bruce fault, is Desmond McKenzie unnu must go cuss because is him in charge of the KSAC," another vendor near Matthews Lane chided his colleague.

McKenzie later told The Gleaner that the vendors had requested a meeting with him and he has agreed to this.

That meeting is slated to take place this afternoon at the KSAC's downtown Kingston office.

- A. H.