The Virgin Islands government intends to move up to 15 vendors at Drake's Seat to a section of Vendors Plaza in downtown Charlotte Amalie on Friday, marking an end to the longstanding selling of frozen drinks, T-shirts, souvenirs and other ware at the historic lookout on the St. Thomas North Side.
The move is expected to come one day after the latest deadline to move the vendors. Government officials have been threatening to relocate the vendors for months.
Licensing and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Andrew Rutnik said Thursday the vendors will move to an area that is now a loading/unloading area just north of the plaza west of Fort Christian and south of Emancipation Garden.
"Effective Friday morning, the vendors will move downtown," Rutnik said. "We will mark out their spots and place them to an area that is ready for them to carry on their business."
He said the previously identified site in Long Bay was simply not ready yet.
"We have contacted Clive Rivers (the vendors' attorney) about our decision and I assume he will be meeting with the attorney general to discuss the relocation," Rutnik said.
Rutnik said Housing Commissioner Ira Hobson was to serve letters on the vendors Thursday informing them of their relocation to downtown.
The estate of the late Homer Wheaton owns the Drake's Seat land. The overlook was built in the 1950s after an easement was granted that the Wheaton estate and the government maintain forbids commercial activity.
Earlier this week, Sen.-elect Celestino White said he would move to have the government reclaim the property by eminent domain in January 2001 when the 24th Legislature takes office. White is slated to be majority leader.
