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Diamond/Grove residents want refund from NDC

Jun 12, 2012 News

 

Several vendors from the Diamond/ Grove East Bank Demerara (EBD) area are requesting that the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) reimburse funds that were paid as fees for space at the market tarmac located in their New Housing Scheme.
While issues have recently been highlighted at this NDC concerning mismanagement of funds, the residents are now concerned that the sums of money which they paid to the office for vending space, have either be squandered or used for different purposes.
One man told Kaieteur News that he used to vend along the roadway close to the entrance of the Diamond/ Grove New Housing Scheme.
He was forced to close his business because the Ministry of Local Government deemed the location an unsafe spot for vending.
“I used to sell greens and eggs right at the front here for a few months and business was good for me but the Ministry of Local Government says how it isn’t safe for me or drivers and told us that we getting a new market in Diamond/ Grove.
“At first we didn’t want to move ‘because we won’t get much business there but they start putting up a tarmac and we all start paying money for space in there to sell. To date we don’t know what happening or what happen with our money but we want it back cause this thing flop,” said the man.
He explained that most persons, who vended along the main road, quickly paid the fees in advance for spots at the market tarmac before its construction was completed.
“What we don’t understand is that so much time has passed and people moved on and yet they can’t do what they take our money for. Since it is a financial transaction and they are obligated to give us a service which we paid for and didn’t get they need to refund us our money.
“The NDC just can’t sit back with our money and do what they want,” he stated.
Almost three years ago, contracts were signed by Government for the establishment of market tarmacs in rural communities mainly to allow safe vending and provide space for those who were literally fighting for it to make a living.
They proposed to institute a new market in the Diamond/ Grove New Housing Scheme where vendors would be comfortable and benefit from a spacious and secure vending environment.
On November 20, 2009, contractor Khemraj Nauth inked a $24.5 M contract with the Ministry to establish a 4,600 square meter market tarmac located between the first and second bridges on the southern side of the scheme.
The project was scheduled to be completed at the end of three months; however, the time was extended to facilitate “final touches” on the market tarmac.
Though the tarmac has been established for over two years the vendors are yet to be placed there.
Meanwhile, most of them have been removed from the roadways and are unable to vend since they do not have a permanent or appropriate location to do so.
Some residents are calling it a “waste of taxpayers’ money” since the empty land is serving no purpose that would benefit the communities.
In fact, the youths in the area would use the spot for recreational activities such as cricket, football and other sports.
Some even use the tarmac to set up tables and chairs to gamble during card and domino games/ competitions.
One woman told this newspaper that she has moved her grocery stall near to the car park close to the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and is still awaiting instructions to vacate the market tarmac.
“Many of us had to move from the road side where business was good  and now plenty of my friends them can’t sell no more unless is by their house and they aren’t making money like before.
“We all have children to feed, send to school and we need to live. I still waiting to go to the tarmac which lef like it haunted or something but truly Government need to do something good with it soon,” she said.
While it is unclear as to when the communities can see that the tarmac is finally being utilized as it ought to be, stray cows and dogs are often found wandering and sleeping there.
One man opined that if the Government does not use the spot for its original purpose then it should be converted into another project or the land should be rented out.

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