Ibrahim Shehab Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Flea markets are tremendously increasing around the city thanks to the influx of illegal traders. In the past, these markets were used by villagers to exhibit their products to city dwellers. But now they are dominated by illegal expatriate residents selling cheap, low quality canned food items, fruits, vegetables, chicken meat, clothes among others. Residents said that some of the products sold are rejected factory material, and chicken and other animals are slaughtered in open. In addition to violating trade laws, the environment in which these traders put up their stalls are extremely filthy and the air is thick with a pungent odor. Huge piles of waste can be seen rotting next to the makeshift stalls as cats and rats run around and drainage water from neighborhood buildings seep toward the area. Where some citizens wanted the market to thrive as it catered to the needs of their meagre income, others were more concerned about numerous health complications that could arise from consuming unhealthy and low quality products. The latter have suggested that these flea markets should be demolished and replaced with new buildings, similar to that in Jazan where buildings now have licensed shops selling variety of products. The Director of the Consumer Protection Committee, Dr. Naser Al-Tuwaim, said that the Consumer Protection Committee has suggested that every province should have a consumer protection council with defined responsibilities. Al-Tuwaim also said that the committee, which is a monitoring body, will provide recommendations to the area councils on how to deal with violations. The councils will have to regularly survey the area under them and take immediate action whenever they come across something taking place against the law. Al-Tuwaim added that if the councils execute their duties in the best possible manner then such violations and illegal practices would not occur. The director said that the committee is currently conducting studies on the existing administrational vacuum, and a full report will be ready by next January. The report will be submitted to higher authorities for review and decision. Jeddah Municipality spokesman Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Nahari assured that the municipality will play an important role while dealing with illegal flea markets. The illegal residents, however, are the responsibility of the passports department, and the municipality has nothing to do with apprehending them, Al-Nahari said. The municipality has field monitors who deal with the arbitrary stalls in front of the shops, but many a time the illegal traders run away during raid campaigns. Once the municipality personnel leave, they return again. If anyone is detained, then his products are also confiscated, and he is dealt according to the law.
