Dear Editor,
Bourda Market is a community left behind. Bourda Market has seen the change of many Presidents, Mayors, and Local Gov’t Ministers yet no one has ever made any significant contribution to the development of the second largest market in Guyana. What is even more concerning is that throughout the decades many budgets have been passed without including us in the development of this country. In fact, many manifestos have been written without including us as a part of the agenda. We are left to battle our problems alone.
Despite being blessed with oil, we still have not been able to share in the growth and prosperity as other communities have. We are thankful that there is rapid growth in our economy and infrastructure. But we are not growing as fast and progressing as fast as other communities. We have noticed that the current government has paid careful attention to uplifting communities but has not batted an eye at us.
1.-Political backbiting
There seems to be an awful lot of political backbiting between the government and the town council. If the Mayor is not of the same party as the ruling government, then there is little financial support for the mayor and his plans for the market. This debacle between the two leaves us caught in the middle. It fosters stagnation and alienation both of which we have been facing for decades now. I am asking for the Government to find a way to work along with the mayor so that we can progress just like the other communities in our country.
2. Drains
Bourda Market’s anemic state worries me. The rotten smell within the market is gross to begin with. This smell not only comes from the garbage pile up that is laid bare in the open for us to all pass by and see but it also comes from the butchery section in the market. In the butchery section of the market, butchers usually throw their bloody water into the drains of the market. The smell we often get is stale old animal blood poured out into the drains in an effort to clean their shops. I believe that a water treatment engineer will help with this issue. I have had the unfortunate sight of seeing large market rats developing skin lesions from running through the drains. Imagine the infector becoming infected! We need help just like any other community.
3. Flooding
There is no doubt that Bourda Market was not made with impervious materials. Climate change, poor drainage, and heavy rainfalls contribute to above ankle flooding in Bourda Market. There is no doubt that Bourda Market is one of those low-laying areas within Georgetown that floods easily when rainfall occurs. When flood days occurs, shopkeepers have to brace themselves for slow or no business on those days. Consumers must wade through filthy waters to get to shops. Shopkeepers must instead of focusing on selling hustle to save their goods from intruding waters. Damaged goods lead to a rise in prices adding to inflation and abnormal pricing. This is a constant battle for small shopkeepers to cope with.
4. Bourda Market: a community without WASH
Bourda Market is one of those communities without WASH (water, sanitization and hygiene). We must make use of the era we are in. We are blessed to be living in a time where technology dominates however, there is little adequate running water available in Bourda Market. Without WASH there is a high risk of passing on diseases. Every shop owner should have a sink with running water. This alone will enable shopkeepers to be more hygienic and sanitary as they serve the public.
5. Crime in the Market
One of the many sad realities of shopping at Bourda Market is that you are never safe. Bourda Market is a Pickpocket’s paradise. Absolutely everyone is a prey to these unconscionable predators. Customers have to always be on guard with their bags as they move from shop to shop hoping and praying not to be robbed. There should be more constables around the market during shopping hours to help with the problem of theft. The economic flow of the market rests on consumers feeling safe enough to shop in a less hostile and less aggressive environment.
6. Vagrants Vs. Vagrants
There are two types of vagrants in this world. The ones who are willing to work and earn a daily bread and the ones who rob and bully the ones who work for their daily bread. Little or nothing is done to help those who wish to better their lives and when fights break out it can lead to death as has been reported in the past.
7. Parking is a problem
The parking situation for consumers and shopkeepers is a dire one. Bourda Market can easily become a labyrinth due to overcrowding, and the conglomerate manifestation of street vendors. Yes, it’s a real headache! Also, adding to the chaos of the parking plight, we see Massy parking their large trucks where stallholders use to park, with their guys selling, or I should say underselling items which is in breach of the moral ethics of business. They want to sell wholesale and retail to the same customers in and around Bourda Market thereby competing with stallholders but not bearing the burdens that we go through.
In the story of Guyana’s progress and development, Bourda Market is left out and left to fend for herself. The factors listed above all contribute to the hindrance of growth and prosperity for the people who work in and around Bourda Market. There is a clear lack of desire to improve the market from the leaders who were elected to do something for us. I hope that the issues listed here (and there are more) will fall like rain on a galvanized roof top of the people who promised that they will be fair, to all of Guyana.
Sincerely,
Pushpa Jagnandan
Former Stallholder of Bourda Market
