43 gets peddlers’ permits to sell fish, fruits, vegetables in Manama

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Forty-three street vendors had received the nod of the Capital Municipality to sell their goods in the streets there without a stall. Mohammed Saad Al Sahli, the Capital Municipality Director-General, told Daily Tribune that majority, 86%, of the licenses were for selling fish, fruits and vegetables in the street.

The rest were for selling perfumes and gifts, clothes, antiques, plants, nuts and canned and ready-to-eat foods. The license, Al Sahli said, allows pedlars to carry out their activities in 3*2 meters area not closer to highways, public buildings or embassies.

The new regulations enable citizens and residents to receive better services throughout the governorate, he said. “We started this process in 2019 and was implementing it in phases. We are now accelerating the rollout, and I urge all to regularise their status,” Al Sahli said.

Capital Municipality issued its first peddlers’ permit in November 2019.  When asked about the scope of the law, he said, “Permits will cover several areas, but excludes firecrackers, cooked foods and drinks.” He also warned against using car horns to attract customers or sitting close to highways, public buildings or embassies in the Kingdom.

Tribune reported earlier that the Capital Governorate had made it illegal for expatriates to sell outdoors and that only Bahraini nationals are legally allowed to do so. The municipality, however, said the licenses are for those who are unemployed.

“They should not hold any positions either in the private or public sectors and should not own a commercial registration.” For registration, an applicant must provide three recent photographs and a copy of his ID card.