The placement of vendors and stalls at the Merriman Mall was a point of contention yesterday for City Mayor Ubraj Narine and some city councillors.
At the council’s statutory meeting at the Kitty Market, Councillor Heston Bostwick, who chairs the Markets Committee, claimed that numerous applications are being submitted to Narine but approval is being granted to other persons to occupy spots at the site.
In response, Narine noted that many persons who did not do go through the required process were approaching him and claiming that they were promised spots at the mall by councillors.
But Bostwick, with councillors banging their desks and chanting in support of him, maintained that all applications are sent to the mayor’s office and are then handed over to the Town Clerk’s Department. “All the applications are handed over to you first,” he said.
Councillor Ivelaw Henry, who sought to defuse the situation, took to the floor to acknowledge the initial plan where only a certain number of persons should be approved for placement at the mall and told the mayor that the required number of applications will be granted. “Let us work for what we decide on from the start—the direct number of persons will get their approval and the whispering on the street must be avoided,” Henry said.
Henry also noted that once the council sticks to its promise of granting the direct number of persons their approval, then it would be a major achievement coming from the Mayor and City Council.
He went on to urge the mayor and fellow councillors to ensure that every action and agreement is “above board” and not unknown to the council.
