In 1972 the once splendorous Wards Corner Department Store, which belongs to GLA/Transport for London, was closed down. Yet over the next decades the ground floor was converted into a thriving market and social hub, gaining a distinct Latin American presence in North London.
Over the years Colombians, Caribbean and African people built the Seven Sisters Indoor Market into a community where they managed to make a living with their small businesses but, equally important, create a much-valued hub for both their communities and local residents. The Latin element renamed their bit el pueblito paisa, replicating the vibrant meeting place back home.
It has been one of the few public places in London where children run around playing freely (even the very young!), whilst the men gather to watch the football and play ‘La Bolita’ (Colombian lottery) and the ladies get their nails or hair done as an excuse to catch up with the past days’ events (very gender-typical I know but it is just so!). It is also a place where Latin-Americans can get a free plate of food if they are experiencing (even greater) hardship, or be given a temporary job to get them by, or cry, laugh and dance together to lift their spirits and feel at home.
The Pueblito Paisa and the Wards Corner Coalition (local residents and business owners) have been fighting for more than five years against Grainger, a multinational that wants to demolish the whole Wards Corner (the market housed in a period building, houses and independent high street businesses) to build a modern shopping centre and luxury flats, which the people who currently live and work in the area will not be able to afford, resulting in their displacement.
There have been two court battles won but persistant Grainger submitted yet another proposal, which was given the go ahead by Haringey Council in a recent six-hour long meeting.
Displacement in Colombia, displacement in London
In Colombia, there are 3.6 million displaced people, because of a civil-war, in which multinational interests in resources such as palm oil, and paramilitaries often acting on behalf of these interests, have played a bit part. In London, a place where many have sought safety, The Equality Act (2010) cited by the Home Office “…requires public bodies to consider all individuals when carrying out their day to day work – in shaping policy, in delivering services and in relation to their own employees. It requires public bodies to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people when carrying out their activities. It encourages public bodies to understand how different people will be affected by their activities, so that their policies and services are appropriate and accessible to all and meet different people’s needs. By understanding the effect of their activities on different people, and how inclusive public services can support and open up people’s opportunities, public bodies can be more efficient and effective.” (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/equalities/equality-act/equality-duty/)
But has this been the case for the Latino Community in London? Having been displaced in Colombia, Colombians first built a thriving trading and social community in Elephany and Castle during the 1970s. This has been slowly eroded by development, peritted by Southwark Council, and Latin American traders effectively displaced again. And, after a long fight it seems that Haringey’s Latin American community is looking down the same gun barrell of displacement.
Even before Garinger had its sights on Wards Corner, Haringey Council, had been selling land to Grainger at very low prices, and even gave Grainger £1.5million before approval of their development. Yet there was some hope when, Back in July 2011 the planning committee at Haringey Council refused Grainger's application, which would have demolished Wards Corner. But last month, in a u-turn worthy of race driver Fernando Alonso, Haringey Council gave the go ahead to a second proposal submitted by Grainger , even while it was still appealling the refusal of their first proposal. This quick acceptance of this second proposal (in a record 6 weeks since submission of the second proposal, a first for Haringey Council) means that the Courts have been made redundant, the legal process effectively bypassed.
The Wards Corner Coalition, who are fighting alongside the Pueblito Paisa for true regeneration and conservation of heritage and diversity, state:
“[Grainger’s] plan will prevent the development of a proposed vibrant multicultural and Iberian and Latin American trading and cultural quarter for London. At the moment there are 1 million Iberian Americans in the UK and the new plan will stop huge cultural and trade input into Tottenham and North East London.”
A “mini-united nations”, an essential part of multicultural London
Before going to the Council’s meeting that made the decision in Grainger;s favour, I asked Geraldine, an 11-year old Colombian girl, what would happen if they lost the market, she replied “we’ll lose all we have”. The campaign is continuing the battle at the Courts and with the Council to save this unique Pueblito Paisa and neighbouring homes and businesses; primarily, to preserve a place a few minorities, particularly Colombians, have made their own. Haringey Council and Grainger have been oppressing a diaspora that fled the oppression lived in their home countries: violence, corruption, guerrilla/war, poverty, exclusion and so on. They wanted a better life, they wanted to have a place in this society, but they are treated as third class citizens. They want to make a positive contribution to this society and also to preserve their culture and their unity, but they are being ejected from the very place that allows them just that.
El Pueblito Paisa is a hub for Colombians and other Latin Americans nationally but it embraces all cultures. In 2008, it was named by the BBC a mini "United Nations". Where else in London can you find a market with such an atmosphere? The market opens until 7pm during the week and until 9pm Fridays and Saturdays, when the village is even more full of vibrant life.
There area among other businesses:
- a Nigerian and a Romanian owned clothing, shoes and accessories stores
- a Jamaican tailor, like in the olden days, who can adjust and make any made-to-measure clothing you may wish
- a Nigerian lady who sells the most beautiful african fabrics at good prices and a Ghanaian family who run a Hairdresser's shop
- a shop with Latin American music and soap-operas, and anything you need they will try to cater for (that really is personal service!)
- a Colombian butcher with the best Argentinean and Brazilian beef in town, and home made 'chorizos' and cheese, all at affordable prices
- a Colombian supermarket with exotic and everyday goods from Latin America, all worth trying at least once (though a lot you will like more than that!)-Corona, a Colombian chocolate with cinnamon to prepare with milk is one of my favourites
- a Spanish/Colombian owned fair trade gift shop, selling unique items, from handbags to rosaries, and so on
- three Colombian restaurants, one to the front and two inside, offering fresh home made plates from £5 that are good enough for two people to fill up, juices and empanadillas (something like patties but more wholesome) for £1 and freshly made smoothies for £2
- three women's hair-dressers/beauty shops, using the best Brazilian keratin and other Latin American hair products
- a Ugandan estate agent, who does not discriminate against people on benefits
- two Colombian health stores, one with such a range of products you don't know where to begin, the other marketing primarily the 4Life range (www.4life.com)
- a Guyanan shop selling bedding, towels, men's and women's underwear and other clothing
- two men's hair shops, one owned by a Jamaican and another by a young Colombian rock singer who specialises in free-style, truly a cutting edge shop!
- two Iranian shops selling all sorts of things, DIY tools, mobiles, cleaning products, glassware and anything you can think of, or nearly enough
- a Colombian coffee shop with the best coffee in town (Colombian made by Colombian) for just £1!! fruit smoothies and milkshakes from the familiar to the exotic, any mix of your choice for £2.50, fruit salads, pan de bono (cheese bread shaped like bagels) bunuelo (fried dumplings) and other delicious cakes, salads and snacks
- three shops to do money transfers, browse the internet and make cheap calls abroad
- two Colombian shops with the latest Latin American women's trends, including jeans and underwear for a shapely figure like Shakira!
- a Jamaican shop selling books, CDs, posters, batches, shoes and other things Jamaican and Rastafarian -Praise Jah Haile Selassie-I !!
- a Colombian lawyer, who has gained UK qualifications, to help with small legal matters and issues of immigration
- a Cuban photographer with a small gallery, a photo studio and a printing/framing shop, with years of experience and increasing international recognition, including works in the Fototeca Nacional de Cuba (Cuban national photography gallery) and an exhibition commissioned by the GLA for London's City Hall.
Boris Johnson’s promise – help us to make him keep it!
During his first mayoral campaign, Boris Johnson visited Peublito Paisa and, in his efforts to get the important Latin American vote, made a promise to the community: “I want to support the Latin American and Ibero-American community in any way I can” (my emphasis) but he has failed to hear the pleas from the community for his help– with so many impaired senses all around where will this lead?
To get Boris to stop this demolition of a building worthy of conservation, which will mean the destruction of a community worthy of respect, please take two minutes and sign a petition, together we can reclaim justice!
