The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) said it is one step closer to achieving its new and improved Georgetown Municipal Wholesale Depot, after overcoming protests and taking firm action to reclaim the produce section of Merriman Mall.
According to an M&CC press release, the area between Orange Walk and Cummings Street, the usual location for wholesale produce vendors, was red-flagged as not being up to par during the Municipality’s ‘Clean and Green’ campaign. Vendors were asked to clean the location and keep it better organised, but according to the council they failed to attain the desired standard.
The Municipality then decided to suspend vending at that section of the Mall to conduct its own cleaning activities. This did not sit well with vendors who were concerned about where they would operate during the suspension period, the release said.
The produce section has nonetheless been identified as the site of the Wholesale Depot which will replace the once disorganised and confusing commercial area.
According to the release, Town Clerk Royston King said the council is in the process of constructing special stalls to be placed at the refurbished vending location and that better garbage receptacles and sanitary and washroom facilities will be made available.
The Wholesale Depot is expected to be completed in less than a month. In the meantime, the Council has identified an alternate vending location for the vendors, who will also have first preference to the new stalls. They will continue to operate from Wednesday to Saturday at the agreed time.
The release quoted King as saying, “The vendors finally understand the importance of having them removed to clean and improve their place of operation.” He explained that some amount of compliance and patience is being exercised by the vendors, and he “would like to thank them for their cooperation.”
