by Jerome Pinder
Nine Straw Vendors are now charged in the United States, after US Authorities conducted a six month investigation on the purchasing and exporting of knock off luxury goods.
These nine individuals have become the symbol of a lawless society. Those charged and their fellow Vendors cannot see the wrong in what they do, because they live in a Country where selling these knock off goods is acceptable behavior. In addition, they work and operate a market that has become nothing more than a flea market, filled with low end imported products. Does made in China ring a bell?
I do not accept the argument that Tourist do not want to buy authentic straw and Bahamian products, because I have repeatedly heard Visitors say that they miss the opportunity to purchase authentic products on Bay Street. When I have traveled to Caribbean destinations, I always look for hand made goods, such as wood carvings, to purchase.
Unfortunately, rather than the opposition using this as an opportunity to make a unified statement with Government against the practice of selling knock off products, they would rather whip Minister Symonette for speaking out against such practices. Another political football, so things will never change.
I know I live in a lawless society. I could probably break the law 99 times and get away with it, but the one time I break the law and get caught, I must suffer the consequences. We do not enforce many of our laws in the Bahamas, and this has encouraged individuals to operate without fear of any consequences. When society fails to police us, we need to police ourselves. The Vendors knew they were selling knock off products and therefore, no matter what our society dictates, they must face the consequences.
The question is, will we learn anything from this? Today knock off products are still being sold in the straw market. And to make matters worse, the Taxpayers are constructing a brand new market, to be filled with counterfeit goods and cheap Chinese products. I suggest the Government fill the new Straw Market with those persons willing to sacrifice and produce authentic Bahamian arts and crafts.
Are we going to police the Straw Market and confiscate the counterfeit goods? How can we, when:
- We allow persons to set up shop on the side of the road without a license?
- When we cannot police the illegal numbers business?
- When we allow persons and businesses with a legitimate business license to sell pirated DVDs?
- When false invoices are used to import goods?
and on, and on......................
Please visit The Nassau Institute here to read a report on the Straw Market entitled "The Nassau Straw Market Puzzle."
