Vendors have been barred from the compound of the Amerindian Residence on Princes Street in order to facilitate the upgrade of the building and its surroundings, according to Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Permanent Secretary Nigel Dharamlall, who signalled that the structure will be rebuilt.
“It is our intention to ensure that the hostel itself as well as the surroundings [is] well taken care of, and we intend to rebuild the hostel and upgrade it, so too, we would like to upgrade the grounds and the lawns, and provide facilities for children on vacation, as well as persons accompanying patients,” Dharamlall was quoted as saying by the Government 3Information Agency (GINA) on Thursday.
Dharamlall’s comment to GINA came following a Stabroek News report on a group of vendors who had turned up to sell yesterday they were told that they would not be allowed to sell there any longer. The vendors stated that they tried to make an appointment to meet with Dharamlall but to no avail.
He, however, told GINA that a decision was taken to have the vendors who have been adopting the space within the confines of the hostel remove and letters were sent to them informing them of the need to remove.
“Some of them have been resisting, and we encourage them to remove. The more important issue to us is service to Amerindian people,” Dharamlall was also quoted as saying. “…We would like the place to be cleared for unimpeded access to upgrade our services at the hostel,” he added.
The vendors had been served with a notice on August 9 to desist from any vending activity at the compound as from August 12. Some of them had accused the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs of trying to intimidate them after one of the vendors was seen picketing outside of Parliament on August 7. Dharamlall had told this newspaper then that the ministry was trying to make the environment clean and eco-friendly, while denying that the vendors were being victimised.
