Reduit Beach.
A Reduit Beach vendor has accused a businessman of spitting in her face for selling Piton beers.
The woman, who requested anonymity, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (December 11) that the incident occurred yesterday at about 1 p.m.
The vendor said she has been in the business for a number of years, but for the past 18 years she has been selling next to the businessman’s restaurant. She has permission from the City Council to sell there.
According to her, she was selling a few Piton beers for which permission was not granted. The businessman apparently found out about it and confronted her, which led to an argument. The woman claims that the man was rude and disrespectful and she was rude in return.
The beach vendor alleged that the said businessman went on to spit in her face during the argument. The woman claims that the businessman reported her to the police. She also claims that he twisted the story to say that she spit in his face instead.
The police arrived and warned her not to sell the alcoholic beverage again. The vendor said both she and the businessman gave statements to the police.
The vendor’s daughter told SNO, “This is disrespect to the highest level. The one case of beer that my mother sold cannot put the man’s business behind so much that you spit in her face and go to the police to inform them that she was the one who spit in your face. Foreign investors need to stop terrorising beach vendors.”
SNO made contact with the businessman who denied the allegations. He said the matter is being handled by the police.