By Subhana Shiwmangal
Vendors who were relocated to Russell Square by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) are complaining about the overall sanitary conditions that they are forced to work under. The vendors, who spoke with the Stabroek News, are claiming that the area is overrun with high piles of garbage, stench of urine, spoiled food and stagnant water. The vendors said that despite several complaints to the M&CC the situation only seemed to be getting worse; some vendors have actually blamed the unsanitary conditions for illnesses that afflicted a few of them recently.
The vendors are also blaming the unsanitary conditions for a decline in sales. According to the vendors, customers are bypassing them and going to other vendors where the overall sanitary conditions are better. This, some vendors say, is forcing them to walk and sell and to seek out better locations around the Stabroek block to ply their trade. Even though the M&CC sanitised the area about two weeks ago, vendors contend that garbage is still being dumped in the area. The vendors want the M&CC to install bins in Russell Square, improve the drainage system, remove the garbage on a daily or weekly basis and install a 24-hour washroom for the vendors.
Sahadat Ali, a 52-year-old beverage and fruits vendor, related to the Stabroek News that most of the time, consumers avoid the area because of the stench and flies from the piles of garbage. “Since 2019 when the Mayor and City Council moved me from the Stabroek Market wharf and put me in Russell Square, me ah experience this thing with the garbage,” he said. Ali said he concreted the corridor to be able to access his space and claimed victimisation from the M&CC. He said he once spoke out about the general sanitary condition and in response he had his lights cut by the council.
Ali added that he had complained to the M&CC many times about the garbage situation and still nothing was done about it. He said that the area was cleaned, but on an irregular basis. However, he said that if he skipped a month’s rent for his stall, the council would quickly make its presence felt. About two weeks ago, after several complaints to the City Council, the garbage was removed and the area cleaned, but it has begun to pile up again. “… The City Council could place two or three bins so they can clear it off easier. This thing won’t pile up,” Ali said.
Ragesh Nantoos, a fruit vendor, agreed that the M&CC did remove the garbage recently, but it continues to pile up and he feels uncomfortable selling his produce under those conditions. He complained that he got sick from inhaling the fumes from the garbage. Nantoos said he now sells his fruits from another area on the Stabroek block. He too wants the M&CC to clean Russell Square on a regular basis.
Jamal Dickson, a 34-year-old grocery vendor who occupies two corner stalls near the garbage pile related that he was unable to open because of the stench and flies. He still pays his rent. “I pay $6,400 rent per month and I have complained two or three times to the police since people peeing on my stands. When I tell them not to, they would pick fights with me,” he said.
Dickson now pushes a cart in the market and sells his groceries. Besides regular cleaning, he wants the M&CC to provide 24-hour security to prevent people from littering. Dickson also suggested that the $200 usage fee be removed from the washroom facility, as he believes that turns people away from using it. He added that normally people/stallholders pay a substance abuser to empty garbage in the area because the area lacks a bin.
Bibi Edun, a 29-year-old seamstress who plies her trade at a second corner stall, complained of illnesses she attributed to the overall conditions of the square. Edun said that some days she works from home because of the health risks. She also complained about the presence of faeces, sanitary pads, condoms and underwear discarded in the area. She said she cautioned the people she suspected were involved in these activities but was often met with profanity. Edun advocated for a 24-hour washroom for vendors without any fees attached. She added, “A woman that works in the washroom wants us to pay but we not supposed to pay to use the washroom.” She said that at a M&CC meeting, vendors were told that stallholders or customers were not to pay to use the washroom.
Edun said that she once threatened to not pay her rent until the garbage was cleared but that backfired as a council representative wanted to take her stall away from her. The M&CC, she said, needed to place bins in the area.
Ambika Sonilall, a 56-year-old vendor who sells smoked fish, pepper sauce and coconut oil related that the unsanitary conditions affected her a lot. According to Sonilall, when she first started selling in Russell Square, the area was clean and water flowed through the drainage canal. Sonilall said the drainage is now blocked and when it rains, the water accumulates on the concrete; afterwards, slush is left on the concrete which gives off a foul stench.
Sonilall said the dirty water contributes to an unhealthy environment. “I would really like someone to look into this matter,” she added.
Contacted, Mayor Alfred Mentore said he would instruct the council to clear the garbage again. “We cleared up the area and I have the solitary director looking at garbage disposal on a weekly basis because, yes there were some piles and I was shocked that it was there. So, I addressed it and I’m now putting systems in place where at today’s statutory meeting, he will have to give me a work schedule in relation to how he will treat with that and, in many other areas. I have asked for these schedules for those places to be cleared or cleaned on a regular basis,” he stated. That meeting was held on Monday.
Mentore further related that Russell Square was a no dumping zone. While he could not say how garbage builds up in the area, Mentore advised that systems were already set up for vendors to dispose of theirs in a compactor located near the Fire Station. He said he heard that mentally challenged people dumped garbage there on behalf of others. “I really would like to lock up people who are doing that,” he said. “System is set up for people to put garbage in but people like living in mess. People have to take responsibility as well.”
