Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM
City Hall promises heightened security for municipal vendors
– announces extended opening hours for markets
In anticipation of increased vending and shopping activities in the city, the Mayor and City Council, through the City Constabulary, has sought to amplify its policing efforts in the city.
Debra Lewis, City Hall’s Acting Public Relations Officer, of the city entity told this newspaper yesterday that as part of the boosted security move there has been an increase in the number of foot and bicycle patrols.
She said that the municipality will also be working more closely with the Guyana Police Force to keep to a minimum the incidence of criminal activities.
Vending on Regent Street
Lewis offered that over the years the municipality has recognised the need to increase security in and around the municipal vending facilities. The intent, she said, is to ensure that customers can make their purchases in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. “During the Christmas season customers come out to shop in their numbers and around this time too we know there are lots of robberies…So the idea is to keep people safe.”
And while roadside vending is not a practice that is encouraged by the municipality such activities may be allowed to a limited extent.
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams said, yesterday, that the presence of roadside vendors has become a customary practice each year as the festive season approach. It is anticipated that there will be no difference this year.
However, he noted that the municipality is geared to monitor the undesirable vending activity closely.
City Mayor Hamilton Green had on numerous occasions emphasised that while roadside vending is an illegal act, efforts are made during the Christmas season to restrict the vending activities rather than prevent it.
It was during a press conference last December that the Mayor had pointed out that although earnest attempts are continually made to clear the city streets and pavement of congestion created by vending, the council has not been able to fully achieve its objectives.
“People are always vending on the streets and on the pavement…We are even finding now that the business owners are also coming out too…In fact they (business owners) have even bigger displays than the regular vendors,” the Mayor had opined.
However, Deputy Mayor Williams has repeatedly stated that vending on city pavements during the Christmas season must not be mistaken for a lapse by City Hall to enforce the city by-laws.
He noted that though some persons may want to interpret the move as a release of the municipal authority it is merely in keeping with the circumstances of the day.
“The environment in which we live requires that we relax on the enforcement during the Christmas season,” Williams added.
Those involved in roadside vending are urged not to block the entrances to business places, provide passage for citizens to use the pavement and ensure that their surrounding is not an impediment to the drainage network of the city.
Meanwhile, the municipality has announced that extended shopping hours have been approved for the Stabroek, Bourda, Kitty and Albouystown markets from yesterday until Christmas Eve. Between the period of December 8 and 15 the four markets, according to Lewis will be allowed to operate from 07:00 to 17:00 hours and from 07:00 to 18:00 hours from December 16 through December 23.
However on Christmas Eve the opening hours will be extended to 20:00 hours.
The closing time at Merriman Mall, New Vendors’ Mall and the East Ruimveldt market will remain the same.
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