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Bandits break stalls at Stabroek Bazaar
Despite its deplorable state, the Stabroek Market Bazaar continues to be a haven for thieves and a venue for criminal activities as a result of it being ‘pitch’ black at nights.
The usually busy Stabroek Bazaar yesterday.
This was the view of many stallholders, yesterday, after two vendors of the market suffered major losses when their stalls were broken into last Thursday.
Stallholder, Balram, (only name given) said that he received a call, from a market constable the next day informing him about the unfortunate incident. Balram, who has been plying the trade for over 15 years, operates stall #78 at the northern side of the market’s entrance.
He has since expressed his frustrations after bandits broke into his stall and carted off more than $1.5M in cash, several bottles of shampoo, batteries and bamboos.
The vendor said that upon learning about his predicament, he hurried down to the market only to find his stall door open and the stall ransacked.
He said that the bandits gained entry by ripping open a wooden door. The man recalled that this is the third time within two years that he has experienced this setback.
The businessman has since blamed the negligence of the city counsellors’ for the recent spates of theft at the market.
Marlene Pratt, who operates stall #83-84, said that her stall was broken into as well. She stated that she is upset about the entire situation. The woman said that she also received a call from a constable at the market, the following day informing her of the break in.
Pratt said that when she arrived, she saw that seven padlocks that were used to secure her stall door were broken. “Four times in fifteen months my stall break and the constable can’t give account for it,” Pratt stated.
She added that upon checking, she discovered that her money along with bamboo was missing. Pratt angrily shouted, “We got to pay $26,000 every month for stall rent and if you don’t pay it you got to pay $4,000 in arrears.”
The woman claimed that drug addicts would be seen roaming the market after hours. She also stated that the market wharf has become the home for many persons. “People are living on the wharf. How can people be living there when it’s a place for people to store goods and so on…? Thieves could be hiding there,” the angry woman said.
However, both vendors who experienced the breakage said that they were informed by other vendors that a man was spotted at the Bourda Market, selling bamboo. They strongly believe that the individual was the one who carried out the raids on their stalls.
Although detectives visited the stalls to take fingerprints and other investigative works, they were unable to apprehend the thieves.
The vendors noted that the market constables have neglected to carry out their duties. They are also furious at the guards who never see or hear anything. “They suppose to walk around at nights and check this place, but they don’t do that,” one vendor said.
They are adamant that the council is clearly taking no interest in the market. The vendors pointed out that the only activity undertaken by the Municipality is the collection of stall holders’ fees.
In the meantime, the vendors are of the belief that their stalls will continue to be invaded if the Constabulary continues to neglect them.
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