For decades it stood there, falling down on itself; perhaps as a statement to the shabby aesthetic that cloaks all of the city’s markets. To be sure, they all have an air of neglect, but the Kitty Market’s was the worst. So much so that as far back as 2009, it had been placed on the list of derelict buildings in the city and four years later, there had actually been debates about its possible demolition.
And as if to hammer home the incongruence of what was taking place, throughout that period, the Kitty Market Square was one of the preferred city locations for political rallies of the party then in government—Kitty being one of its so-called strongholds—including the famous back-balling episode in 2011, involving former presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. Speakers on the hustings were promising citizens a better quality of life while in the backdrop, the dilapidated market spoke to a disdain for the city.
It had seemed then that despite the valiant efforts of its vendors and stallholders, including the Kitty Market Action Committee, and stakeholders invested with the preservation of the city’s architectural treasures, the Kitty Market would lose. Over the years, as many of its vendors as could find another lucrative vending space moved out of the market. The few who remained found that except for a few diehards, shoppers were also unwilling to chance entering the rundown structure and business suffered as a result.
Fast forward to 2016, and the market is in the throes of being renovated and updated. And although this is something to be pleased about, there are questions about the feasibility of building an enclosed structure, and the plans to make it Guyana’s first air conditioned market.
In January this year, following a change in government and with renewed attention being placed on the restoration of Georgetown, hope for the Kitty Market bloomed once more. However, Hamilton Green, who was still mayor at the time had pronounced that restoring that facility would fall into the hands of the new mayor. Local government elections’ plans were well underway by then and the old mayor had correctly stated that it would not be proper for him to begin a task of that magnitude then, when it was clear that it could not be finished before the elections. There was also the issue of where the money for the renovation would come from as the condition of the market suggested that the repairs would be substantial.
However, less than two weeks later, in February, and still ahead of the local government elections, Town Clerk Royston King had announced that $240 million were to be spent on rehabilitating the Kitty Market and the work was scheduled to start immediately. He had told the media that this decision was made after a team from the City Engineer’s Department inspected the building and surmised that City Hall staffers had the necessary expertise to repair it. He had also stated that the money would be taken from the city’s coffers, a flip from his statement just a month prior that the city would invite the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to engage in a joint project to facilitate the repairs and modernisation. At that time, he had stated that while the city had some funds to effect repairs, capital funding would be needed for modernizing the market.
It was later stated that the top flat of the market building would be used as a satellite city office, offering services that at present can only be had at City Hall. It was also indicated that the entire market would be air conditioned in keeping with the plans for its modernisation.
Rehabilitation started in February but was halted in June after funds ran out, as expected. In spite of King’s assurances to the contrary, no one actually believed City Hall had $240 million to restore the Kitty Market. And at that time, not only was the market incomplete, but the city’s creditors had started questioning when they would be paid.
City Hall said then that it would scrap the air conditioning aspect—as it was obviously pricey—and concentrate on finishing the market. However, once the work restarted a month later, word was that the meat and fish section would be air conditioned and the rest of the market would have extractor fans for natural air cooling. It was also stated at the point that the market would have an Information Technology centre, an area for community activities, restaurants and a recreational area.
This was about the fourth time that the script on the Kitty Market had been flipped, possibly to suit the circumstances at the time.
Originally estimated to be completed in five months of its February start date, the market is still incomplete today, nine months later. Its new November 1 deadline is fast approaching and it does not appear to be anywhere close to meeting that. In addition, with there being no sign of any ventilation, concerns have been raised as to whether the plans for air conditioning the market are still in the pipeline and if they are, whether the cost to the vendors and the buyers would be so exorbitant that having been flipped the market could now be headed for a flop.
