Some itinerant vendors who sell fruits, shoes, hats and clothes plied their trade outside the Stabroek Market once again yesterday but many others were still waiting for their fates to be decided.
Vendors in and around the Stabroek Market area have been affected by extensive demolition works being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. The demolition exercise started after the explosion of a grenade last Wednesday morning which left one man dead and 18 persons injured.
Since then, many permanent business structures at the Stabroek Market area have been demolished. The owners of these establishments have since told Stabroek News that they have been promised that priority will be given to their relocation but they had no timeframe within which they will be able to get their businesses up and running again.
Many itinerant vendors told Stabroek News yesterday that they were still waiting on word from the Ministry of Public Works. Many of these vendors participated in protest action last week.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Kellawan Lall told Stabroek News yesterday that he and Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn met vendors who sell bread, hats and other such items on Sunday. This newspaper learnt that more than 60 persons were at that meeting.
Lall explained that while more than 50 vendors have returned to their vending locations efforts are still being made to “put people back without compromising the congestion of the area.” The area, he further explained, is being cleared to allow the free movement of traffic and to aid in the elimination of crime.
Owner of the now demolished Fuggie’s Beer Garden Walter Lake told Stabroek News on Sunday that Lall had said that a fountain would be constructed where his business place was located and where Sean’s Fish Shop and K&VC were still standing up to late yesterday afternoon. When questioned about this, Lall said he did mention the idea of fountain which could possibly be part of beautifying the Stabroek Market area, but no firm decisions have been made. “We are not removing vendors to build a fountain,” the minister stressed.
Meanwhile, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Komal Ramnauth, GCCI Senior Vice President Eon Caesar, Private Sector Commission Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo visited the market area to speak with affected vendors.
Ramnauth said that GCCI hopes to help affected vendors, especially those owners of permanent structures which were demolished and are yet to be relocated, along with the Mayor and City Council and the Ministry of Public Works reach an amicable solution. He said it was important to see what proper arrangement can be put in place to facilitate organised selling and something the vendors would be satisfied with. The GCCI will meet vendors on Thursday and taxi drivers, who they say will also be affected by the massive Stabroek Square clear out, on Friday.
