Dear Editor,
The Guyana Market Vendors Union (GMVU) is very concerned about the imbroglio that is going on between the Ministry of Local Government and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC). We heard of business entities refusing to pay millions of dollars in rates and taxes owed to the City and our Central Government not helping in this regard since they themselves owe the City in excess of one billion dollars. The Chief Citizen has not been paid his meagre monthly stipend of seventy-five thousand ($75,000) dollars since October 2020 and we were told that Central Government does not respond to M&CC correspondence. The Minis-ter of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlal’s general performance and concomitant actions, to date, gives one the impression that he bitterly despises the Mayor so that his desire to hurt and embarrassed is impacting negatively on the operations and very survival of the City of Georgetown. We do hope his actions or inactions are not intentional and is meant to lead to something more sinister.
The apparent wedge (which is widening) is adversely affecting our members (stall holders/vendors) and unlike the rich and powerful these small business entrepreneurs have to pay their weekly/monthly rates on time. Faced with the COVID 19 pandemic, stall holders/vendors are experiencing minimal sales and some are barely surviving but when the Revenue Staff turns up to collect, no moratorium is granted. The GMVU is of the view that if this petty but destructive political standoff does not come to an end soon, Guyana would be the only looser. The Government and the M&CC must agree to sit together, on the same side of the table, to solve the problem on the other side. The Union would like to make it pellucid that we will continue to support the M&CC and more so, His Worship Mayor Ubraj Narine whom our members like to describe as the vendors’ Mayor.
Sincerely,
Eon Andrews
President
