Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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Diamond car park forced to relocate again
As extension works to the Diamond, East Bank Demerara Public Road progresses; hire cars traversing the Diamond Housing Scheme will, for the third time, be shifted from their temporary parking area situated in front of the Demerara Distillers’ Limited (DDL) distillery.
It had been noted recently by an engineer of the Public Works Ministry that while the extension works are continuing in the area, the car park was to be accommodated in front one of the commercial banks in Diamond.
However, it was later revealed by the Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council overseer, Parmanand Babulall, that the car park will be relocated to the vicinity of the Diamond market tarmac in July.
According to Babulall, the relocation was scheduled to have occurred simultaneously with the opening of the Diamond market.
It was envisioned that with the car park being located in the vicinity of the market, both vendors and drivers would derive benefits from the vast availability of clientele. Babulall said that the area provides adequate space to accommodate parking for consumers, vendors and taxis.
With the July deadline approaching, however, the tarmac remains vacant while hire car drivers are forced to park randomly along the Diamond, East Bank Demerara thoroughfare, to avoid obstructing the road extension project.
Babulall, during a recent interview with this publication, said that although not visible, the plan is still intact. He explained that due to a delay in the securing of funds pertinent to the operations of the Diamond market, the relocation of the car park has been delayed, since the two are expected to be executed simultaneously.
The overseer specified that funds that are to be dispensed by the Ministry of Local Government to assist in infrastructural work on the tarmac, and the time taken to approve the financing, have contributed to the delay.
The funds will cover the fencing of the tarmac for security purposes, which is one of the terms of agreement requested by the applicant vendors. There will also be provision for storage of the stalls on the tarmac following sales.
Babulall explained that since vendors will not be allowed to use permanent stalls; following sales, the stalls will have to be dismantled and stored in the secure area which the finances will make provision for.
He stated that with time taken to approve the funds by the Ministry, a renewed deadline cannot be premised.
Meanwhile, with their most recent move edging closer to the Diamond ‘high bridge’, hire car drivers are now even more concerned about their safety and that of their passengers. In addition, with their temporary parking area bearing large pot holes, the drivers are fretful about damages caused to their vehicles as well as adequate parking space.
Sections of current parking area being utilised by hire car drivers
“As down here (pointing to area) get bad, we keep moving all the time. We don’t have a fixed space. That’s the problem,” one driver lamented.
The drivers are hopeful that with a permanent parking area, other relative systems will be put into place. “We got to get a car park. And when we get a car park, we would form a body. But we can’t form a body if we don’t have a car park”.
As road engineers near the area where the car park is now temporarily located, the drivers are left to wonder where they will be placed next.
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