08-May-2008 =9B Top stories =9B Khmer takeaway taken away
Khmer takeaway taken away
By HAMISH MCNEILLY
A COUPLE who fled the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1980s might return to
Cambodia after the Dunedin City Council decided to =91=91terminate the
contract=92=92 for their Khmer Satay-Away stall.
=91=91I can=92t speak. I feel very upset,=92=92 Phy Sem said.
Mrs Sem (54) had operated the stall at the corner of George St and the
lower Octagon for more than 10 years, while her husband, Song Sem
(59), worked part-time at the couple=92s other Satay-Away stall at the
university.
While the stall at the university was still permitted to operate in
the area, Mr Sem had decided to close it =91=91because the council do not
care about us=92=92.
Council environmental health team leader Ros MacGill said the contract
between the council and the Satay-Away stall was to have ended next
month, but the termination was brought forward because of =91=91health
issues=92=92.
The DCC issued the Octagon stall with a D rating in February and =91=91it
was one of the factors that helped me make the decision to close the
stall earlier than expected=92=92.
The couple pay $6500 to the council annually to operate the stall.
The DCC sent the couple a letter in March informing them of their
decision. However, they did not receive the letter as they had
returned to Cambodia to care for Mrs Sem=92s mother.
On their return this month, Mrs Sem opened the stall as usual, only to
be told by the DCC it was meant to be closed as of April 7.
The couple were offered other areas in the city in which to operate
the stall, including the Exchange, the museum, St Clair and Kettle
Park. Ms MacGill said the stall would have to meet current standards
before a contract could be granted.
In 2002, the DCC decided to review street stalls in the Octagon, but
with year-round alfresco dining available, the Khmer Satay stall was
no longer required in the area she said.
In a letter to the Otago Daily Times, Phy and Song Sem said they would
like to express their thanks to their loyal customers
The couple fled the Khmer Rouge, arriving as refugees in New Zealand
in 1983, settling in Dunedin where they have lived for 25 years.
Mr Sem worked at the now closed Methven factory for 14 years, while
Mrs Sem looked after their four children and also worked at the now
closed Distinctive Knitwear.
Opening the Satay-Away stall 10 years ago, they became a regular
fixture at their site working mainly noon to 2pm and 1am to 5am on
Saturday and Sunday mornings.
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