Several vendors yesterday gathered in front of the Mayor & City Council (M&CC) in renewed protests at plans to have them move from the corner of Robb Street and Bourda to enable the demolition of the Bedford building.
The Bedford building was sold to a businessman and will be demolished and a new structure erected. The plan for the new structure was not revealed. The move will displace about 20 vendors.
On Tuesday, the vendors operating in the area received notices from the City of Georgetown’s Market Department stating that they must remove from the present location (Bourda Street) and relocate to Orange Walk between Regent and Robb streets and this would take effect from today. It also noted that assistance would be provided at 4:30 pm today for the vendors to relocate as this was one of their concerns.
Vendors are not satisfied with the Orange Walk location as they say it is not adequate for selling, other businesses use the area to park their vehicles and there are no lights. Many vendors sell late into the evening.
Denise Dey, who has been vending for 34 years said, “so when you going to move us from where we are and disturb another man’s business. Then you taking us and putting us into conflict with somebody else…put us back on the road where we were.”
In reply to the argument that a new building is to be constructed, Dey asked “should we stay hungry while development is going on? We know that we have a new dispensation…oh, how we love our President but plenty of the things that are going on they don’t know”.
The vendors have met Mayor Hamilton Green and Town Clerk Royston King on several occasions since the decision was made two months ago.
Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green said yesterday that the vendors need to move for two reasons: to make provision for the demolition of the Bedford building and because most vendors have occupied the area over the drainage. She said yesterday’s visit by the Mayor discovered that the area is unsanitary and the decision is one made by the council so no one person can reverse it.
“It would endanger their lives and it is in their own best interest to move,” she advised. “If there is development, we all must be able to adapt to that change and development”.
According to the Deputy Mayor, information given by the Town Clerk is that the area will be prepared to accommodate them and alternative arrangements are being made.
“The council will do everything to work with them to ensure that they do not lose their livelihood”.
The Deputy Mayor declined to disclose the name of the businessman at the Bedford building site.
The Mayor and City Council says the building has been unsafe for a number of years and poses a threat to the lives of passers-by and occupants of neighbouring buildings. The building, which formerly housed the Bedford Methodist School, has not been used in decades.
