Tensions reportedly elevated in the Waterside commercial district of Monrovia as marketers protest City Police Officer’s actions that they say, have threatened their livelihoods.
The marketers also claimed that due to the City Police harassment, the situation at Waterside has worsened the economic hardship, which small-scale traders faced.
The protesting marketers, many of whom depend on daily sales to feed their families, pay school fees, and meet other basic household expenses, have called on the relevant authorities to reconsider how restrictions on street trading are being enforced.
They argue that measures to maintain order should not leave struggling citizens without a means of survival.
Some of the sellers further alleged that some officers have demanded L$3,000 from marketers, including on the days when “we made no sales.”
If substantiated, the allegations would raise questions about the conduct of enforcement officers, the legal basis for such demands, and whether the affected traders are being subjected to unauthorized payments.
The controversy highlights the difficult balance between maintaining public order, and protecting the livelihoods of citizens, who depend on informal trading.
One of critics told reporters that while municipal authorities have a responsibility to regulate public spaces, enforcement should be transparent, lawful, and consistent rather than creating uncertainty, and fear among small-scale business operators.
When contacted for a response, an officer said, “I lacked the authority to answer questions from the media.”
The response left unresolved key issues surrounding the alleged confiscation of goods, the reported L$3,000 demands, and the official policy governing street trading.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and the position of the city authorities remains unclear.
Meanwhile, information obtained from sources within the city police suggests that some officers may not be on the government payroll.
The sources further claim that some personnel operate without official identification cards.
The reported situation calls for an urgent investigation by the responsible municipal leadership to establish whether officers are acting within the law, whether any fees or penalties being demanded are officially authorized, and whether the reported seizure of goods follows established procedures.
A female marketer suggested that authorities should clarify the employment, and identification status of personnel assigned to street-trading enforcement.
As tensions continue along main street, as the challenge facing the authorities is not simply to remove traders from public spaces, but to develop a fair, and workable approach that protects public order without unnecessarily destroying livelihoods.
Until the allegations are investigated, and the authorities provided answers, concerns over enforcement practices and the treatment of vulnerable traders are likely to persist.
