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Rehabilitation of the Stabroek Market wharf will take time – Minister Whittaker
While there is urgent need for rehabilitation of the Stabroek Market wharf, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker, has said that a revised plan of action to refurbish the market area is in the pipeline, but will take time to materialise.
Whittaker said that this is because City Hall and the other markets are also in dire need of repairs.
The dilapidated Stabroek Market wharf.
Last week, heavy winds caused extensive damage to the already badly deteriorated vending area of the wharf. The incident created chaos among vendors and those who ventured into that section of the market to conduct business.
A section of the wharf had collapsed, injuring a well known market handyman, on June 5, 2013. The handyman, Charles Ferdinand, had sustained a huge gash to the head and was hospitalized for over 48 hours.
Vendors said that the situation is due to the lack of concern on the part of those responsible for the maintenance for the Stabroek Market wharf. The market operators noted that persons are putting their lives at risk on a daily basis, in an effort to ply their trade by using that section of the market.
They noted too that since there are no alternatives to the situation, numerous calls were made to the authorities to have the situation rectified. However, the roof of the dock continues to hang dangerously loose, as vendors express fear that at any moment, the entire section could come crashing down.
Mayor Hamilton Green had noted that the maintenance of the marketplaces is the direct responsibility of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) but owing to its current financial state, it has been difficult for the council to source revenue to renovate the structure.
He said that the council had made numerous attempts to raise funds to refurbish the area but the government had frustrated all its plans.
Earlier this year, Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba also made attempts to have the facility rehabilitated. She noted that although Stabroek Wharf was originally scheduled to be rehabilitated by in-house personnel (workers from the Municipality), the council will have to resort to hiring a contractor to deal with the situation.
Meanwhile, workers from the Ministry are currently reviewing a plan which includes a scope of work to rehabilitate the wharf. Although the project is its initial stage, Minister Whittaker says that it will be a combined effort between the Ministry of Public Works, the Local Government Ministry and the Council.
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