Despite calls for the city markets to be shut down yesterday, business went on as usual at the Stabroek and Bourda markets as some administrative staff members continued their duties while some continued strike action.
President of the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) Dale Beresford had said on Tuesday that the industrial action will intensify with the shutdown of the markets, but the plan failed to get off the ground.
Staff of the Stabroek Market Revenue Office yesterday maintained that since their salaries had been paid, there was no reason to continue the strike action. The markets, one staffer emphasised, are fully functioning.
Vendors, meanwhile, speaking with this newspaper, supported this statement, noting that they experienced no difficulty in gaining entrance to the facility as they did on Monday morning.
However, a major concern of most vendors remains the failure by staff to reopen the washroom facilities after three days.
“We still can’t use the washroom.
Every day we here whole day and can’t go… what is the reason? What sense it make they open the market and not the washroom?
How are people going to work in here?” one woman angrily questioned. Vendors are forced to walk to nearby restaurants, like Demico and KFC, to use the washrooms there.
When contacted yesterday, City Hall Public Relations Officer Royston King said that while some revenue collectors have returned to work, all the departments of the Mayor and City Council remain on strike.
Members of the General Workers Union (GWU) and the GLGOU took strike action since last Friday, mainly because of the non-payment of salaries for last month and the instruction by Town Clerk (acting) Carol Sooba to have King sent on leave, among other issues.
They are also making a strong call for Sooba to be removed from the post of Town Clerk. All salaries have since been paid out.
Minister within the Local Govern-ment Ministry, Norman Whittaker, is expected to pronounce on the matter today. Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green is also expected to call a press conference to inform the public of what has been happening within the municipality.
