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M&CC undertaking improvement plans for Merriman Mall, markets
– as part of Independence celebration preparation
Approximately $1 million has already been expended by the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown (M&CC) to put measures in place to advance works on the Wholesale Depot at the Bourda, Georgetown Merriman Mall.
Works on the Presidential Park
According to Public Relations Officer (Ag), Ms. Debra Lewis, M&CC continues to work assiduously to complete works on the Wholesale Depot. The Depot has been the subject of controversy after M&CC asked vendors to halt vending activities.
But according to Lewis the Municipality has taken on the task of undertaking strategic works to make the Depot an attractive vending location. And this is part of the Municipality’s preparatory plans for the nation’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.
“The Council anticipates that for the 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations the entire Merriman Mall would be transformed into an exquisite tourist attraction with a special presidential park which is taking shape; the children’s play area, a fitness park, food mart, and the wholesale depot.
“This restoration programme would see the Council establishing other parks and green spaces for the citizens,” related Lewis.
Electrical fittings in place at the Merriman Mall stalls.
Currently electrical works have been completed, so that each stall at Merriman Mall would be properly illuminated. Also, the Council has plans to provide the vendors with specially built stalls so that food can be properly displayed, according to Lewis who pointed out, “The Georgetown Municipality would furnish the area with all other amenities including water, security and garbage collection.”
Earlier, the Council met with the vendors and gave them the opportunity to come up with designs and styles of the stalls. This process was intended to derive a common design for stalls in order to ensure that they are built in a uniformed manner. But according to Lewis this consultation process did not materialize thus resulting in some friction.
However, at the level of Council a decision was taken to expend funds to erect the stalls. And Lewis has made it clear that “this area would be used strictly for the wholesale of goods and would be exclusively managed by the Georgetown Municipality.”
The Public Relations Officer (Ag) has informed that the Municipality is also working towards enhancing the general aesthetics of all of the markets that fall under its purview. Already she noted that rehabilitation of the Kitty Market has started and consultations have started with vendors at La Penitence Market.
An initial discussion with vendors saw a proposal being made for the stalls on the borders to be rebuilt in a more attractive style. This move, according to Lewis, is one that the Municipality is also hoping to finance.
Other markets will be targeted for such works. While Lewis is optimistic that such works could be completed in time for the independence celebration she asserted that if this is not possible the Municipality will continue to persist with its markets improvement plan.
“We are looking to create market places that people will be happy to go into and shop simply because it looks so attractive,” said Lewis as she related that a meeting with vendors of La Penitence Market is slated to happen in another two weeks.
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