The new-look Stelling View Market was officially opened yesterday with a grand ceremony in the market’s vicinity.
Vendors have been operating in the newly constructed market for the past 3 weeks, according to the Clerk of Markets, Schulder Griffith.
The new facility accommodates 66 stalls which offer shoppers a variety of products such as groceries, dry goods, arts and craft, internet cafes, tailor shops, barber shops, salons, air conditioning services, electronic stores, small restaurants and a specially made benab where fruits, vegetables and ground provisions will be sold.
These stalls have been rented to persons coming mostly from the Stabroek Market and some new developers who are renting them at $40 per sq ft with extra premium for prime spots.
Griffith said that the transition was not easy for the vendors. “Anyone would prefer to sell on the roadway rather than an area that they are not sure about so it was not easy to persuade them but eventually we had a flow of applications and now they are showering praise because they did not know the place would be so bright and beautiful while others have expressed regret that they have not taken up spots in there,” he further stated.
He said the Mayor and City Council did not sponsor this project but instead, was greatly assisted by public-private partnerships, stallholders themselves and the Ministry of Public Works, especially Minister Robeson Benn who ensured that the facility was paved.
He also touched on development in the Stabroek Market which has been ongoing for some time now.
This was said to be necessary after recognizing the constant flooding that comes with the high tides in the market. Stalls will all be raised so to avoid the effect these floods have on businesses.
According to Griffith, vendors are also moving away from the traditional styles and are now creating remodelled stalls with bright lights and improved shutters. Also, most stalls in the Stabroek Market are in the process of constructing double deck arrangements which will now offer them more space on an upper flat. On these, electronic billboards and even neon lights will be seen.
Making stalls more attractive will increase profitability and will make them more competitive with supermarkets, Griffith noted.
M&CC Public Relations Officer, Royston King, also said that this will help increase revenue. “This is a good opportunity for us to do something for ourselves,” he said.
