Construction works on the Kitty Market are expected to resume shortly, as a $17.7 million contract has been awarded to BML Architects and Engineers for the completion of works in Phase One of the project.
The Kitty Market has been undergoing rehabilitation works since 2016 with the completion of the first phase long delayed. BML had previously done some work on the market.
The new works, which involves the construction and completion of stalls, tiling of the floor and completing the ceiling on the lower flat of the two-storey building, will be done for a sum of $17.7 million. This phase of the project is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks, Deputy City Engineer (ag) Rasheed Kellman said.
He explained that works are likely to commence this week.
Meantime, councillor Trichia Richards, who heads the Markets and Public Health Committee of the Georgetown City Council, told Stabroek News last week that they will be tapping into funds from a subvention provided by central government to begin Phase Two of the project. In this year’s budget, the government allocated $50 million for the completion of Phase Two of the restoration project.
Richards said that they are currently ironing out some details and will soon go to tender to procure freezers for the refrigeration section of the market.
“We continue to look at the holistic plan of that market and we are looking to include a freezing area. That will come up in the Second Phase of the market [restoration project],” the councillor said.
Asked about a possible timeline for the completion of the project, she responded that there is none. “…we don’t have a timeline. When the bottom floor is finished with the construction of the stalls, we will be looking at the construction of the freezing area,” she said.
In January last year, the Ministry of Communities and BML Architects and Engineers Consultancy and Construction Services inked a $25 million contract to have the first phase of works completed. BML was reportedly selected through a closed tender process, in which it was the only bidder. That contract was funded by the government under the $200 million Georgetown Restoration Programme. That contract covered the completion of 15 external stalls and 10 internal stalls; completion of the market clerk’s office and revenue collection section; and the rehabilitation of the sanitary block
The cost of restoring the Kitty Market has been pegged at $240 million based on the engineer’s estimate.
The entire project caters for over 100 stalls, including fresh fruits and vegetables, a fish/meat section and clothing and grocery vending. The sizes of the stalls vary with the largest measuring 12×8.
In addition to the stalls, the building is already designed to include the Public Health Department, offices for the Clerk of Markets and Revenue Collectors and a concert/conference hall, which is expected to host community events.
