Cosmetologists and barbers who operate on the Merriman Mall said they have met Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and voiced their concerns about having to be relocated and suggested that they be allowed to build permanent structures.
Stabroek News learnt that the meeting was held in the Mayor’s office earlier this week, following a petition delivered to the Mayor, which had been signed by the operators.
Hairdresser Abigail Charles told Stabroek News that from the meeting it was gathered that the “one month thing doesn’t seem be around any longer because she tell we once we keep the place clean, even though it is not our area, we could stay.”
“For now we are good here and everything seems settled,” injected another vendor.
Stabroek News observed that base of the work stations were covered with new vinolay and had each operator had a new tent. According to the hairdressers and nail technicians, they were required to purchase the new tents if they wanted to continue plying their trade.
City Hall Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis told Stabroek News that at the conclusion of the meeting the mayor informed group that she would be taking their discussions to full council before a decision was made.
Chase-Green had said she was not being hard on the barbers and cosmetologists by removing them but was only following public health guidelines, which state that they should operate in enclosed spaces equipped with facilities to sterilise instruments used.
Two Wednesdays ago, city workers led by Town Clerk Royston King demolished stalls in the area where the cosmetologists operated. “We are just removing the ugliness to create a picture of excellence and beauty,” King had said, while noting that the area where some of the hairdressers and nail technicians operated had “stalls with old wood and vinolay and have left the area looking like a shantytown.”
In previous news articles, it had been reported that Chase-Green said the barbers and cosmetologists had one month to find private spaces to operate in. Chase-Green also pointed out that the decision to clear the area was due to their failure to keep it clean.
The operators were relocated to the strip between Light and Cummings streets last year from the pavements of America, Longden, Regent and Croal streets after City Hall had embarked on a cleanup campaign.
