Vendors are continuing to endure frequent flooding at the Linden Municipal Market, which they say is also becoming a virtual dump.
Sherry Fullington, a clothes seller, explained that the roof leaks and when the rain falls the market floods. Fullington told Stabroek News on Monday that some vendors got together and decided to put a plastic barrel to catch some of the water but when it fills they are back to the square one.
During a visit by this newspaper to the market on Monday many of them said the drains are poorly maintained by the council and the workers assigned to clean them don’t do so regularly. As a result, reptiles are usually found in the water and in the stalls during and after the flooding, which forces them to evacuate until the flood recedes.
Additionally, they also complained that garbage is being dumped by persons from different villages at the exit and it eventually piles up and attracts pests, such as rats.
They said often when the garbage piles up they would have to endure the stench for weeks because collection is not regularly scheduled. “You know how much times we complain but we don’t see nobody? You know how long this roof wetting up this place and we setting thing to catch water. Watch how the garbage pile up there. I don’t know what the council doing,” Fullington said.
A fruit vendor stated that the wharf is rotting and instead of repairing the area the council decided to paint the rotting wood.
Linden Town Clerk Orleena Obermuller admitted that vendors have been complaining about the leaking roof for years and said that the council has tried to resolve the issue by replacing some galvanised sheets but she said the entire roof needs to be redesigned.
In response to the concerns about the dumping of garbage at the market, Obermuller said it is being done not only by vendors but other persons within the area. She, however, added that there has been a huge pile-up of garbage because the town’s garbage truck is currently beset by mechanical issues. As a result, Cevons Waste Management is currently assisting in garbage collection.
Obermuller also said damaged parts of the market wharf are being repaired.
‘People ain’t really buying nothing’
Meanwhile, apart from the state of the market, the vendors said they are facing hardship due to rising costs and reduced spending power, coupled with high unemployment in the area. Some said they rarely see customers except when the old age pension is being paid and the elderly visit to buy.
“…Nothing ain’t really doing here. We don’t really make nothing really. Because everything raise, people ain’t really buying nothing. For the longest while we come out here in the morning and glad for somebody to come buy. We does get a sale like once a month when pension pay. The young people want a lil job and them ain’t getting it. The government got the temporary job thing and them giving a hard time. Some get through and some waiting. I get daughters that apply over a month now and didn’t receive a call”, a vendor said.
