The trellis of the Main Square of Lima It has cost at least S / 144 million to the merchants and small businessmen who work in the surroundings. At least that is the impact so far in 2022, considering that each month the losses add up to S/18 million, as reported by the National Confederation of Merchants.
The members of the union that are in the surroundings of the square say they feel abandoned by the Government of Pedro Castillo, because although on other occasions they have had to endure the closure of the area, they had not faced a permanent fence.
The general manager of the business association, Eduardo Estrada, explained that, in total, “there are between 1,200 and 1,300 merchants and small businessmen who are affected.”
“We feel alone”
Those affected also comment that they have observed that the Executive has preferred to prioritize facilities for its political supporters rather than attend to the problems they have as merchants.
“On Monday (September 5) the president had to go to the Prosecutor’s Office to testify and they had to close several streets. But there was a group of government sympathizers, say their own laptop, and there was no problem for those protesters to enter. So we see with concern and discomfort that the Government does not care about who generates jobs for the country, but leaves us aside and only us. If there are no sales, we cannot meet our obligations such as renting the premises, paying the workers, paying loans that we have made as a result of the pandemic, taxes,” Estrada told Peru21.
In this context, Estrada commented that the best path would be for the government to approach it, through the Ministry of Interiorin order to have a solution that does not further deteriorate business.
“What we are looking for is dialogue, we propose joint work with the Ministry of the Interior, the Police, the Municipality itself (Metropolitan of Lima) and the merchants, to take joint measures. Because if they act without thinking that merchants and businessmen are doubly affected, who is going to want to come and invest in the Center of Lima?”, specified the union leader.
However, the concern of the merchants has another reason: they have already tried to communicate with the Government to find a solution and they do not listen to them.
“We feel alone, they ignore us. As an institution we have sent an official letter to the Ministry of the Interior at the beginning of July, in which we are asking them to assist us to go and listen to us and attend to our demands,” Estrada asserted. If the letter remains unanswered, the losses could add up to another S/18 million this September.
Affected tourism
Another concern is generated at the level of tourism, since the square has always been a mandatory stop on the circuit of the Historic Center. So he comments CEO of Casa Andina Hotels and Peru21 columnist, Juan Stoessel.
To this is added, he explained, the plan of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima to pedestrianize several streets and make a circuit of the monumental center of the Historic Center.
“Clearly, this pro-tourism plan does not converge with closing the plaza,” warned Stoessel.
Data:
-More than 20% of the businesses affected by the grating of the Plaza Mayor in Lima are establishments linked to gastronomy, such as restaurants or cafes.
-Businesses dedicated to the sale of clothing and footwear are more than 30% of the total.
