$23M repair works at La Penitence Municipal Market

Apr 18, 2011 News

With 20 per cent already spent from the $23 million allocated by the Mayor and City Council for repair works to the La Penitence Municipal Market, restoration works are far from being halfway complete.
Speaking to Mayor Hamilton Green, this newspaper was told that due to the incessant complaints by persons plying their trade there, the council opted to release funds to aid in the refurbishment exercise. Mayor Green told Kaieteur News in a telephone interview that the exercise will have a span of three weeks, but may have to be extended in the event of inclement weather.
The Mayor went on to explain that work will only be done on Saturdays and Sundays.
“Only on weekends work will be going on because we have to look at the safety of person who would be using the market”.
When Kaieteur News visited the site on Saturday, carpenters were removing numerous badly damaged zinc sheets off the western side of the market, in the area which houses the ‘fish pond’ and clothing stalls.

Workers repairing the roof last Saturday

One fish vendor said that prior to the repair works, their lives were at “risk”.
Several vendors related that they were left at the mercy of the elements when it rained.
“If yall see what use to go on here when de rain fall. It used to be worst than a strainer” a vendor, Ann Mc Clean added.
The woman affirmed that they were instructed by the council to tile their tables before any rental fee could be accepted. Failing to comply with the City Council’s instructions would have seen their stalls being taking back.
Despite the present exercise, nearly all the vendors reasoned that as the construction workforce removes the dilapidated beams and rafters, their “goods” are being exposed to the heavy dust and debris.
Most stalls located on the end where work is in progress were not open for business.
“We don’t really know if we will still have to pay our rental fee taking in to account that we can’t even open our businesses due to the repair works” one vendor said.
As it is, the entire La Penitence Municipal Market is in a dilapidated state. The vendors opined that the entire structure is in need of repair.
“Is not like if we ain’t thankful for de work the council is doing but if persons are to take a good tour of this market they will see that the environment is not conducive for persons to occupy”.
Early this year, the Ministry of Public Works and Communication announced that a four lane road will be constructed in front of the market. Because of this, stalls which were in close proximity to the roadway had to be shifted.
Several of those hawkers are now plying their trade along Sussex Street, where business.