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Patentia market tarmac serving no useful purpose
The “long awaited” market tarmac that cost Gov’t almost $14M to establish at Patentia, WBD.
The market tarmac located at Patentia village, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was established to facilitate vendors and stallholders since Government felt that the various markets were “overflowing”.
There was therefore the need to establish comfortable venues for vendors and sellers.
On November 13, 2009 the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Seewchan signed a contract for the establishment of a market tarmac at Patentia, to “allow vendors to continue their routine in a more organized and well structured area”.
He also stated that the tarmac was to be constructed with the intention of providing the public with quality service.
At the inking of this contract, media officials were present when Seewchan explained that the Patentia market tarmac would be constructed at a cost of $13.9 million and would measure 2,220 square metres. The duration of the contract was to have been three months.
Almost one year has passed since this contract was signed, and not one stall-holder has moved onto the “long-awaited” tarmac at Patentia.
When Kaieteur News visited the tarmac’s location on Tuesday afternoon, young men were seen ‘liming’ on the strip that was said to be the market tarmac. There were a few dilapidated stalls on the roadway and at the side of the Patentia Secondary School, but it was apparent that most of the stallholders were no longer in the area.
When a resident was questioned about the location of the old vendors, he explained that most of them were “fed up waiting and they gone other places to sell”.
Another resident stated that she doesn’t understand that “this little thing costs so much money” to build and the end result is that it is unused, except by stray dogs in the morning hours and young men in the evenings to gamble.
Kaieteur News understands that this initiative by Government would eliminate traffic congestion and obstruction in the area but the tarmac at Patentia, like the one established at Diamond/Grove New Scheme, East Bank Demerara, serves no purpose presently, except to provide a place of enjoyment and relaxation to stray animals and persons who need a location to play sports.
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