By Shuntal Glasgow
The government and the city yesterday remained locked in a standoff over vending caravans positioned outside of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).
The situation took a dramatic turn at approximately 11:13 pm on Monday with Mayor Ubraj Narine lying in the path of a truck to prevent the removal of a caravan. He also uttered a statement which triggered condemnation from various sections of society.
The government and GPHC management are contending that the caravans impede traffic in this vital section of New Market Street while the city, through its mayor, is insisting it has jurisdiction in this area and was never consulted about the removal of the ‘encumbrances’. The city is calling for a meeting with the government on the matter.
The government had on Monday given the vendors a final notice to remove makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, motor vehicles, and other receptacles used for vending, warning that failure to comply would result in their removal
Narine did a live video on New Market Street at approximately 11:13 pm on Monday in front of the GPHC where he asked the officers on ground to halt their removal the caravans. “These caravans, nobody should move anything here, please desist from doing such, I’m asking y’all quietly.”
At several statutory meetings held by the Mayor and City Council recently at the Kitty Market, it was argued by councillors that it is within the council’s authority to make decisions concerning vending within the municipality.
According to a statement made by Narine, if it was the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill’s decision to move the vendors, consultation with the Mayor and City Council would have been the correct approach to the matter.
After several of the vendors ventilated their views and concerns on the issue, a team from the Guyana Police Force arrived on Monday and vendors then decided to place themselves in the path of the vehicle, thereby preventing it from leaving with the caravan that was loaded on the truck at the time. Narine made several attempts to approach and speak with the truck driver, but the driver refused to engage him. The mayor then went under the truck preventing any further movement.
“I have no problem with relocation of the people… but let us have a discussion with the people. The government have no regards for local democracy. I am not against them removing the vendors but the way they are doing it, it is not right. This kind of dictatorship must stop in this country. You have to have consultation with the vendors and council.” Narine argued.
He also questioned the actions of the Ministry of Public Works in the context of religion and race. He noted that on several occasions the government has refused to collaborate with the council to execute exercises like these. “Why the president don’t want to work with me? Maybe because I’m a Hindu it may lead to religion now….because I’m a Hindu and he is a Muslim, that’s why he doesn’t want to work with me?’’ This was done while the vendors in their remarks stated that they were targeted because of their ethnicity.
At 01:37 am yesterday, while the Mayor and Councillors were still on New Market Street, the caravan that was loaded on the truck was removed and restored to the spot that it had been occupying. Narine subsequently said, “I’m grateful that the caravan is able to go down back and I’m calling on the government of this country, let us not bypass the municipality, we have a local democracy in this country. Destroying the poorer class people only source of living is injustice… I hope and pray that the government find it fit to consult the Mayor and City Council, there is a Mayor, a Deputy Mayor and a Council.
On the scene Monday evening were councillors, Clayton Hinds, Shonnelloe Daniels, and APNU+ AFC Members of Parliament, Sherod Duncan and Roysdale Forde.
Yesterday morning, Narine issued a statement of apology to members of religious bodies, Muslim, Hindu and Christian. “I unfortunately made statements that members of the Christian, Muslim and Hindu and religious bodies found offensive and I unreservedly apologise.”
Mingled
Minister Edghill later issued a statement saying, “Matters of public orders and safety must not be mingled with partisan politics.” He added that, “The government through the Ministry of Public Works in collaboration with many public and private sectors stakeholders, has embarked on a mission to promote environmental health and safety. That being said, the removal of encumbrances along New Market Street needed to be done, it was only a matter of when. This action will serve in the best interest of every Guyanese who use our premier health facility.”
Edghill insisted that people must be able to access the health facility without hindrance. “Today I call on the Mayor of Georgetown and former Minister of Public Infrastructure (David Patterson) to explain to the Guyanese people why New Market Street should be left congested and encumbered? Why are they trying to prevent the entrance to our main hospital from being” hassle free?
The GPHC issued its own press release yesterday, providing their insight into the ongoing vending and illegal parking issue along New Market and East streets. According to the press release the dialogue originated from multiple requests by the management of GPHC to have the vendors relocated away from the main thoroughfare which are the entrances to the hospital’s outpatient and emergency departments.
GPHC’s records show that the relevant authorities were written to in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2022 regarding the issue, emphasizing that it posed a threat to ambulant vehicles and patients seeking care at the facility. It is a life threatening situation that is compounded because the obstruction also delays staff from accessing the hospital compound, the release warned.
Meanwhile, the vendors yesterday morning held a peaceful protest outside the Ministry of Public Works’ office in Kingston. Some members of religious bodies as well as citizens protested at the City Hall building against statements made by the Mayor on Monday evening.
While the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Private Sector Commission and the Region Three private sector called for the Mayor to resign from office over his statement, the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce (GCCI), the Deputy Mayor Alfred Mentore, the Pandits Council and Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha condemned the statements made by the Mayor.
Narine and Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton had visited the vendors earlier Monday evening at approximately 8 pm before the truck arrived to remove the vendors. At that time, Narine expressed his concern about the position taken by the Ministry of Public Works.
After the Ministry of Public Works posted its final notice at approximately 2:48 pm on Monday, Narine said in a Facebook post that, “The council stands in solidarity with vendors. The Public Works notice [is] illegal. I have noted the recent post on social media by the Ministry of Public Works indicating the removal of vendors on New Market Street between Thomas and East Street.”
Narine mentioned that the issue was never tabled at the Council for a decision to be made, “I have also enquired from the Council on its decision, if any, on the matter and am advised that this notice was never tabled at the Council nor has there been any engagement by the Ministry with the Council. As stated previously, and in accordance with the Municipal laws which designate Municipal roads, I have advised the Council to initiate legal proceedings against this notice.”
He further stated, “This action cannot be seen as anything other than a deliberate economic strategy aimed at preventing poor people from earning a decent living further pushing them into poverty. Additionally, this action flies in the face of the authority of the Municipality. In this difficult economic environment, unless we work together we cannot achieve a One Guyana where the vulnerable in our society are protected and empowered to participate meaningfully in legitimate business.”
