New Vendors’ Mall set for commissioning Saturday

Sep 28, 2009 News

A massive gala, set for Saturday has been streamlined by the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown through its Market Authority to officially declare the New Vendors Mall commissioned.

Clerk of Markets, Mr Schulder Griffith, relayed to this newspaper recently that extravagant plans are apace to mark the highly anticipated and auspicious event which is expected to be graced by governmental officials, possibly even President Bharrat Jagdeo.

All set for the grand opening.

Initially a tentative commissioning date was set for September 12, which Griffith had disclosed would have been dependent on contractors who were still completing some work on the facility. He disclosed that based on the urging of the market authority, efforts were made to hasten uncompleted works, allowing for an official date to be identified.

According to Griffith, immense co-operation between the market authority and vendors was instrumental in putting together what he described as “a fantastic programme.” He revealed also that there have been proposals by vendors to offer special bargains in order to entice passersby to the revitalised and modernised shopping arena.

A total of 179 stallholders have taken up their place within the confines of the mall, which was revamped as a means of reducing the problem of roadside vending in the city.

The municipality had decided last year to improve the state of the mall which was in a dilapidated state and had forced vendors to utilise the pavements, hence committing the illegal act of road side vending.

It was disclosed by Griffith that although they met their rental obligations to the municipality, the vendors had preferred to utilise the pavement since they were convinced that the Mall (formerly the Toolsie Persaud Mall) was too remote and deplorable for customers to venture.

Vendors, according to him, were approached with a proposal for them to have a more spacious environment since they would be allowed to extend their stalls.

As a result, the Mall was dismantled last January.

It was anticipated then that the facility would have been completed by March and then subsequently in May, but due to some difficulties the completion date was further delayed.

However, he noted that although the facility is almost ready, some of the Mall vendors have raised concerns about competition with roadside vendors.

According to Griffith, they are right to believe that roadside vendors will present an unfair competition.

For this reason, the Clerk of Markets disclosed that his department will be working closely with the City Constabulary to rid the city of illegal vending.

And this move, he said will be carried out in phases between Church and South Streets which has been identified as the first target area. Those in the vicinity of Guyana Stores on Water Street and Kentucky Fried Chicken on Croal Street will also be cleared, Griffith assured.

Municipal officials are optimistic that the rental of the stalls will serve to maintain the operation of the facility and contribute to the municipal revenue base at the same time.