The Ministry of Local Government yesterday met with Stabroek Market vendors and committed to carrying out necessary works including repairing the leaking roof and fixing the bathroom facilities.
It was complaints from vendors to Minister of Local Government, Nigel Dharamlall, during a visit to market, that prompted the announcements that a clean-up exercise will be led on Sunday and that the ministry will assist on several fronts, including fixing the roof.
The responsibility for Stabroek Market maintenance falls under the purview of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) but there has been ongoing tension between the Opposition-controlled council and the Ministry of Local Government. Each side trades blame about support for the city’s upkeep. These tensions have intensified since the announcement of Local Government Elections slated for June 12.
At yesterday’s meeting, vendors listed a number of complaints and these included the lack of adequate security, poor sanitation, improper drainage which results in flooding, allegations of inefficient facilities management, and to top it off, there seems to be no will by the M&CC to address their plight.
The years-old leaking roof, especially the section over the fish market was highlighted as needing urgent attention.
On Sunday, a major clean-up of the market is planned and government has stated its intention to seek redeployment of more City Constabulary officers to bolster the five that are placed at the market currently.
For their part, vendors have committed to re-establishing a Vendors’ Committee that will be responsible for taking complaints and recommendations and passing them on to the requisite authority.
Dharamlall confirmed with Stabroek News that a commitment was given to “fix the roof of the fish bay area, repair washrooms which are woefully inadequate, desilt all drains in the market, have garbage removed daily, and excavate the outlets which are clogged with garbage… ”
“We are working to improve our country… [these are all] commitments of President Irfaan Ali,” he declared.
The matter of the prosecution of vendors who litter the market is also be looked at but it is unclear how that would be enforced.
