Informal merchants in Quito protested the sales controls in the historic center; AMC has conducted 387 product recalls

With posters and slogans in rejection of Mayor Santiago Guarderas, a group of informal vendors from the Association of Organized Self-Employed Workers (Asotrab) protested outside the Municipality of Quito to complain about the control operations carried out by the metropolitan agents, since there have been clashes. From the Plaza Grande, in the historic center, the protesters shouted that the actions of the uniformed men have been aggressive.

The sit-in took place on the afternoon of November 4. José García, president of Asotrab, mentioned that en several cases the agents remove the merchandise “violently” to sellers. He stated that they seek to reach an agreement with the Municipality that allows workers to sell on a mobile basis in some streets of the historic center.

On October 31, Asotrab posted on social networks a video of an alleged assault from a metropolitan policeman to a street vendor, showing a cut on one of her hands. The incident occurred on Imbabura and Chile streets, in the Colonial Case.

The Secretary of Security said that the mishap occurred when the control was carried out on a merchant who did not carry the sales permit of products in public space. In that, a woman tried to hinder the performance and, as a result of the struggle, she had a slight injury to her hand.

The entity clarified that the metropolitan control agents do not carry knives or sharp objects, they only have authorized non-lethal elements.

The Secretariat maintains that compliance with the procedures is guaranteed and charged that “some unregulated self-employed traders act violently and they insist on staying in public space ”.

Currently, the Municipality is carrying out a intervention plan in the historic center which includes the regularization and relocation of self-employed traders. One of the spaces that are already available is the La Merced Shopping Center, located on Chile and Imbabura streets.

Édison Carrillo, District Trade Coordinator, indicated that There are 120 free premises that can be occupied by the self-employed, without paying rent, at least until the end of the year, since it is being defined for how long the rent will not be charged, he explained. To access, merchants must regularize. In the following months, more spaces will be opened in the La Marín sector and other areas.

The option of going to La Merced does not convince, the Asotrab spokesman commented. Garcia said that the mall does not receive many customers and that the self-employed merchants do not have enough income to pay the expenses that the store requires. Every day, the income of a salesperson is between $ 5 and $ 10, assured the leader.

On October 27, in an interview with EL UNIVERSO, the Secretary of Security, Daniela Valarezo, mentioned that In Quito there are more than 2,000 self-employed workers, only in the historic center there are approximately 600. That before beginning with the intervention of the colonial helmet the informal merchants were socialized on the actions. Valarezo commented that it is difficult to get order again, because “there are many (street vendors) who believe that they are the owners of public space.”

Between October 15 and 28, the Metropolitan Control Agency (AMC) executed 387 precautionary measures for the recall of products. Until October 31, 48 controls have been carried out, within the framework of the intervention plan of the historic center, which contemplated the identification of non-regularized autonomous merchants, control of the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces, verification of permits to merchants regulations, supervision of operating permits, and control of capacity and biosafety measures. (I)