At a meeting on Wednes-day, Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told all barbers, nail technicians and cosmetologists who ply their trade on the streets of Georgetown that they had to “come off of the roads” and return to the Merriman Mall until the end of July.
Speaking at a meeting, with barbers, nail technicians and cosmetologists from around the country at City Hall’s Chambers, Chase-Green, along with Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran, expressed their discontent after some of the hairdressers and beauticians had chosen to leave the Merriman Mall, which the City had made available for them, to illegally ply their trade on the road.
“Recently the Council have recognized that some of the hairdressers and hair technicians have returned to the streets of George-town. Our understanding is that they might have been aided by persons in the administration, the constabulary and maybe councillors,” Chase-Green told the gathering, while stating that at the last statutory meeting on Monday, the council had decided that they were going to remove all of the nail technicians, cosmetologists and barbers from of the streets.
However, she pointed out that while the council was not pleased with them returning to the Merriman Mall since the beauticians would’ve shown the council “disrespect” by returning to the roads, they are sympathetic, and as such, have chosen to give them until July to reoccupy the Mall, until they can find a place of their own to ply their trades.
“It is illegal for barbers, nail technicians and cosmetologists to operate on the streets. You can’t be washing people’s feet, doing pedicures on the street, filing nails, combing on the streets and in some places right next to where people are selling food. It is unhealthy and the law is quite clear,” the Mayor stated.
She explained that while the council has tried its best to find a permanent place for them to work, at the end of the day, it is not the responsibility of the council.
“People think they can disrespect the council and return to the streets of Georgetown to do hairs and nails. Doing hairs and nails on the streets of Georgetown is non-negotiable. We cannot allow that to happen,” Chase-Green told the gathering.
She highlighted that ever since the workers returned to the streets the council has received numerous complaints and petitions about the health hazards and as such, the City must enforce its laws. She explained that the council does not wish to “bulldoze” any of them, but is just asking them to comply with the laws of the country.
“We don’t want anyone to say we come like a thief in a night and carry away your stuff. We called you here to say that those who have returned back on the streets will not be allowed to continue and the council are very serious about that,” Chase-Green said sternly.
If barbers, nail technicians and cosmetologists are found plying their trades on the streets, Chase-Green said that the council will remove them, ensure that charges are instituted and that they are placed in front of the courts.
Some of the beauticians who were present at the meeting explained that they were in no position to find their own places, since often times the rent is too exorbitant. In response, Chase-Green promised the gathering that the council would do as much as they can to assist them in finding a place where they can permanently ply their trade.
Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Market Committee, Lionel Jaikarran also expressed his disappointment with the beauticians. “Our last statutory meeting it was mentioned that possibly we could help you find a place where some of you can get together and rent a place. We will not be paying the rent but we will assist you to the best of our abilities, but after July you will not be permitted to go back to the mall,” he said.
While it is unclear whether any equipment of the barbers, nail technicians or cosmetologists was seized yesterday, it was related to Stabroek News that the City Consta-bulary would, sometime next week, go on an operation and seize any equipment found on the streets.
The Mayor and City Council passed a motion in January that the barbers and cosmetologists operating on the Merriman Mall would have until July 31, to find themselves in enclosed spaces.
In early January, the operators were upset after a team under the guidance of the Town Clerk, Royston King, had turned up and started to demolish their work stations. The operators later said that they had not been given any prior notice to move. The Mayor had stated at the time, that the area was unkempt and mirrored a shanty town.
