Across political administrations in Guyana there have been persistent concerns about the physical conditions that obtain at our municipal markets which, in instances, are well-known to be downright deplorable even hazardous to health. The conditions of our urban municipal markets, it has to be said, has been, for generations, a black mark on both the municipal authorities and the central government. The mindfulness is that some of these markets, having long descended to the level of serious health hazards which, in some instances – and here we unhesitatingly place the Stabroek and Bourda Markets on our list – can only be upgraded through costly physical and phyto-sanitary upgrading.