Santo Domingo.- Street vendors at kilometer 9 of the Duarte Highway protested Wednesday against their impending eviction, scheduled for Saturday. The vendors allege that authorities are proceeding without fulfilling promises of financial compensation or providing adequate relocation plans.
Jesús Suero, a vendor in the area, highlighted irregularities in the process, stating that over 50 shop owners have not been contacted about compensation, despite possessing the required documentation. “I have all my papers—city hall documents, a sworn statement, my ID—but no one has informed me about what I’m entitled to,” Suero said, emphasizing the lack of communication and transparency.
Many vendors, some of whom have worked in the area for decades, expressed frustration at what they see as unfair treatment. “I’ve sold coffee here since I was a child to support my family. Now they want to evict us without any solution,” one vendor lamented. Meanwhile, a Ministry of Public Works source claimed that most vendors had already been compensated, but others insist that promises of relocation made years ago remain unfulfilled.