Hire car drivers of Charity, Essequibo are disappointed that a regional official of Region Two removed them from their park to facilitate the construction of a koker but failed to keep his promise to let them return upon its completion.
They said too that vendors who were also removed from other spots, took over their park and have built their stalls in it.
Despite repeated complaints, the situation remains the same.
The drivers told Stabroek News (SN) that at first they held strike actions and even spent an entire night at the park, determined not to give it up until a solution was worked out.
They only decided to comply after the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dennis Jaikarran went and “sympathize with us. He told us the project would take six weeks and after that he would streamline the park and let us go back.” A few months have already passed.
Right now they do not have anywhere to park and their cars would line the road shoulders.
But this poses a traffic hazard because the road is not that wide.
Drivers said they cannot approach the officials of the Good Hope/Pomona Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) because “when you try to tell them something, they cuss you.”
In the case of the vendors, they said regional officials and the NDC had removed them from their spot as well and they had nowhere else to go.
They then decided to build their stalls where the park was because their businesses have to go on.
Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt, said that was an “ideal opportunity” for the REO and the NDC officials to go on the ground and meet with the stakeholders, including the drivers, vendors and the police to “establish a workable group.” He does not agree with illegal vending but said if the vendors have been there for a while, then there must be an alternative arrangement.
Some vendors from another section said they have been asking for lights around the market but the NDC has not installed them as yet.
One vendor told this newspaper, “The NDC wants us to break our stalls and move for them to fence the market. We ask to sell for the holidays and they don’t want to listen to us. They still give us three days to break…”
Ramdatt said the NDC has some work to do to improve vending but it should however, provide timely notice to the vendors.
He pointed out that if any project has to be done then there should be consultations with the beneficiaries.
“If you are going to fence the market, then vendors need to know who is the contractor, what kind of work has to be done and the date of completion, the estimated cost and the date of commencement.”
He also said that the vendors should be part of a team to monitor the quality of work.
Upgraded Good Hope Stelling
Meanwhile, the drivers said no area was designated for a hire car park at the upgraded Good Hope Stelling.
According to a driver, “Right now the contract for the stelling stall up… it’s not completed and the contractor didn’t hand it over as yet.”
He pointed out that “the food stalls are still incomplete and the engineer for the project did not cater for a hire car park.
That is a port of entry and they did not make provisions for the taxis…“
An article published in the Stabroek Business, had said that the project to enhance the facilities at the stelling and transform Essequibo into a tourism hub, included upgraded vehicle parking.
The project was expected to commence in May 2018 and be completed by December the same year. The article said that the project would include “upgraded facilities that will significantly enhance the quality of passenger accommodation whilst services will include snackettes and stores for visitor convenience. Apart from significantly upgraded vehicle parking, the project will also embrace the upgrading of the surrounding area with emphasis on improved lighting and major environmental enhancement.”
The project has been executed by Samaroo Investments.
Drivers said the parking situation is the same for them at the Supenaam wharf.
According to them, “When we go to pick up boat passengers the police would ride up and charge us…”
They have to “park a far distance away and it is very inconvenient.”
They are also upset that touts would be at the wharf and grab passengers’ bags and then charge the drivers $500 to load a car.
Some of the drivers are calling for the touts to be removed.
The frustrated drivers felt they are being neglected and are hoping that those issues can be resolved soon.
