Following concerns about the erosion of the embankment and accumulation of garbage, the Ministry of Works today announced that the seawall between Vlissingen Road and the Ocean View International Hotel will no longer be available for recreation and vending from tomorrow.
Over the last five years, the seawall lime has become wildly popular on Sundays and holidays in particular. Thousands congregate on the seawall on Sunday evening and early Monday morning and vendors and large food carts are also present in big numbers along with loud music.
In a notice in today’s Guyana Chronicle, the ministry said that the ban will be in place from tomorrow.
“This prohibition is as a result of damage to the sea defence infrastructure, excessive build up of garbage in the drains and canals leading to flooding, and the increasing traffic congestion and its related safety risks, especially on Sundays and holidays.
“It is proposed to relocate all the vendors( inclusive of mobile units, drink carts, hot dog stands etc), to the section of the seawall embankment between Camp Street and Vlissengen Road, where an initial Three (3) Months permit will be issued for vending”, the Ministry said.
The Ministry invited all those who vend in the area to a meeting on Wednesday 8th May at the Ministry of Works, Fort Street, Kingston at 9.30 am to discuss issues related to the relocation.
The Ministry also announced that the section of road from Camp Road to Vlissengen Road will be made a one-way heading east. It added that street lights on this embankment will be activated and the area will be cleaned to enable parking.
The Ministry of Works had signalled last week that the seawall lime would likely end after high tides crashed over the wall in the vicinity of Subryanville and Bel Air leaving the areas in inches of salt water and further threatening the embankment.
