Three years after rehabilitation works began on the Kitty Market, vendors are still unsure about when they can return to ply their trade.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, some vendors said that while they understand that the works on the market are continuing, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council has not given them any concrete information as to when they can expect the upgrades to be completed. Several weeks ago, a $17.7 million contract was awarded to BML Architects and Engineers to resume and complete works in Phase One of the project.
Grocery vendor, Sherry (only name given), said that she is hoping that they can move over to the market by January next year. She emphasised that from her observations, the contractor is pushing to get the work completed in a timely manner.
However, she expressed concern that the stalls seem smaller and posited that they will not be able to store adequate amounts of goods in the new stalls being constructed. She explained that while the stalls have the standard length, the width is less, thus preventing them from having enough space for storage.
The woman said that she might have to consider getting two stalls to accommodate the large amount of goods she has.
Another vendor said that she was uncertain as to what would happen when the market reopens since she was never given a stall but has been selling on the outskirts of the market for a number of years. She is unsure whether she will have to apply for a stall or if one will be given to her by the council.
“We are not really in any discomfort because we have to understand that the market is being constructed and they are trying to finish it. The only thing is we don’t know when that will be,” the woman said.
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 told Stabroek News in a previous report.
Previously, 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 feet.
