Ramadan, An Opportunity For Street Hawkers In Algeria

ALGIERS, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- As Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, they take a journey within - to discover their inner strengths and understand the plight of those in need. However, over the years traditions and lifestyles have changed, altering along with it the way Ramadan is celebrated.

Now, in Algeria, the holy month becomes an opportunity for street hawkers, who spread through cities, with a hope of selling their merchandises which quality is often a source of doubt and concern.

According to the Algerian news agency APS, this well-established trade multiplies rapidly during the fasting month when households' consumption becomes ever bigger.

The scourge is not loosing in spite of measures taken by government authorities. It takes more roots; hawkers invade the capital's different markets, making difficulties to legal trade and being detrimental to the national economy.

A tour in several markets in Algiers helped us to note that this kind of activity is spreading well, to the detriment of legally working merchants.

Thus, the municipal market of Staoueli (west of Algiers) was transformed, in this holy month of Ramadan, into a true Capernaum where we can find everything from fish merchant to vendor of "Dioul" through other hawkers who display on the floor perishable products.

These practices, becoming commonplace, are detrimental to the health of powerless citizens, merely observing the scene.

This market which has always been the main shopping place of Staoueli has become in recent times, a real "catchall", causing great harm to the image of this tourist town.

These sellers can showcase the same products as those sold in stores but at cheaper prices.

According to a local shop, "they (the sellers) were chased by police, but they returned in force this month of Ramadan, they have squatted openly and publicly in the sidewalks."

Source: Bernama.
Link: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=440215.