THE Honiara City’s Law Enforcement arrested a street vendor at the Central Market compound yesterday for illicit activity.

A team from Honiara City Council Law Enforcement and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) arrested the young lad, Pater Toiepa and took him to the municipal Head Quarter for questioning.

Mr Toiepa was detained for selling knives in the street and around market premises, an action described as unlawful, stipulated in the HCC ordinance.

Moreover, the officers said this is not the first time Mr Toiepa is caught.

The officers also found around $300 in Mr Toiepa’s pocket from knives which he sold at $30 each.

In the meantime, he will be in custody until bailed, with a case anticipated soon.

City Clerk Charles Kelly said since the street vendor was caught in market premises, it is possible for officers to carry-out arresting as it against the market ordinance.

“Market has its ordinance called the market ordinance which only the council can conduct or run market in a council facility, land and property, no any other, and that only vegetable is allow there.

“Knife for example should be selling over the counter in shops, so what will happen they could confiscate them and go to court with it,” City Clerk Kelly said.

Mr Kelly explained any form of money collected within city boundary must have a licence to allow compilation of money from public.

He said HCC is issuing licence for shops, and another called Hawkers licence which allows selling along the streets.

In the meantime, Mr Kelly said the Hawkers licence council has been suspended almost 20 years, meaning that venders do not have licence to operate.

“That is why it creates the problem, when it will be reinstate it’s up to the governance of the counselors whom you elected not the city clerk, we just drivers of legislations,” Mr Kelly said.