In an effort to reduce street vending, plans are being mulled by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to house vendors under a roof.
Stabroek News has learned that the M&CC is planning to extend the Stabroek Bazaar and the New Vendors Mall by adding another storey.
Also being considered is the addition of another storey to the Bourda Market. The “fly-over,” as M&CC Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis called it, would allow buyers to shop from one end to the next without having to go through the hassle of passing through the lower flat.
Lewis explained that the plans are long term and are intended to discourage vendors from selling on the roadside and outside the markets. The plans, she noted, are in keeping with President David Granger’s vision of seeing vendors plying their trade off the roadways.
In June, President Granger, during an address to city councillors, said, “I would like to see during the tenure of office of this coalition government, every vendor under a roof.”
Lewis told Stabroek News that while they have not set a date to initiate the projects, City Hall is in discussion with financial institutions to seek funding to move ahead with its plans.
She also stated that they are working with financial institutions to give loans to vendors who are working to expand and enhance their business. Lewis mentioned that the city council has recommended that the vendors form themselves into groups before approaching lending agencies.
The recently formed Guyana Market Vendors Union has been planning to meet with the officials from City Hall to discuss the possibilities of vendors returning under special conditions, but this engagement has not yet materialised. This is as a result of the union still waiting to be recognised by the municipality.
After a massive cleanup campaign in April around the Stabroek Market Square, vendors were relocated to a temporary spot on Hadfield and Lombard streets. Since the relocation, vendors have complained bitterly of poor business and have made calls for their return to the Stabroek Market Square.
According to Lewis, the council would not entertain vendors at the Stabroek Square as they are working to set up the area as a free space.
For some time, the city administration has been trying to control the high number of vendors venturing onto the road to ply their trade, but over the years the situation has grown out of hand. Many vendors have flocked to the pavements and street corners downtown to ply their trade.
