“My job is to now find a solution to this and to find a way so that you live, they live and we all live,” were the words uttered by City Mayor, Alfred Mentore to vendors yesterday who had been plying their trade in front of Muneshwer’s shopping complex but have been ordered removed by the court.
The meeting was called to determine the future of pavement vending at the Muneshwer location at Lots 9 and 10 Water, Commerce and Longden streets following the court ruling.
In the brief meeting, Mayor Mentore said while every vendor relies on vending to provide for their families, neither he nor they can ignore the Court Order that they must remove. He noted that the Order did not give a time frame. He revealed that the mandamus states that the owner alleged that he cannot access his building and that persons are hanging their items on his establishment. Mentore also pointed out that he heard reports of one vendor who had gotten into an altercation with the owner which might have prompted the order being filed, leaving all the other vendors in a predicament. Mentore said he had reached out to the owner of Muneshwers, “I reached out to the owner of this particular place, I also reached out to the attorney and our attorneys so that we can find a tripartite solution on this issue.”
He told those present that since it is the festive season, many of them would have already invested for the holidays. He said that he understands that they would have to sell to make a profit so that they would be able to enjoy a good Christmas, as such he is trying to get them to stay on at least until January 15, 2024.
“One person… caused us to have this kind of challenge at this time of the year where persons are ‘looking for it’, so to speak.” Mentore said that the person involved in the altercation is the one who has made it hard for them, which was avoidable, and he wants to know who that person is. He also said that the Mayor and City Council is going to have to put some corrective measures in place as it relates to vending, blocking of entrances and hanging items on other people’s establishment. The Mayor urged that all comply with whatever is decided.
“Businesses have their challenges, I know you have your challenges, but we all need to coexist and to live in this one Guyana that we have”. He assured those present that he will do his utmost to ensure they have a favourable outcome.
Eon Andrews, President of the Vendors Union, who was also present at the meeting told vendors, “Those type of court orders have always been there, that part of where Munesh-wers has his business and people have things hang up and he wants removed, he has a right to that, it is his business egress and ingress, he is entitled to that.” Andrews noted that previously, areas were marked and vendors were told to sell within a given space and to keep it clean. “If it is a person who has caused this, Mr. Mayor, then the council’s security personnel has failed.” Deputy Mayor Denise Miller also addressed the vendors, “All I would ask the vendors is to give us the time and chance to work with you.” Miller related that there is a vending policy which the council is currently reviewing, “I understand that it is a bread and butter issue, we understand that you have your commitment in terms of sending your children to school and your mortgage to pay. This council is before you, will not hamper you in terms of a daily income based on international law to live and survive in this country. Just trust us, just give us a chance, as we dialogue with the business people.”
Muneshwers Limited has secured an order from the High Court requiring the city to remove all encumbrances from the pavement and streets surrounding its Lots 9 and 10 Water, Commerce and Longden streets premises.
In judicial review proceedings before the Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, the court ordered that a mandamus be directed to the City Engineer to carry out the duty stated in by-law 10(2) for the enforcement of by-law 10 (1) enacted under the Municipal and District Councils Act in relation to the removal of anything left, placed or stored such as to encumber the pavement or pavements and streets around the property. Failure to comply will constitute contempt of court.
The order was issued on November 3rd.
Lawyers for Munesh-wers had approached the court on October 27th for an order against the encumbrances.
Muneshwers was represented by K A Juman-Yassin and T Housty.
