Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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Stabroek Market to have civic space, parking meters — M&CC
The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is moving ahead to revamp sections of Central Georgetown.
According to Public Relations Officer, (PRO) of City Hall, Debra Lewis, the council
The Stabroek Market area which is to be transformed into a civic.
is currently in talks with stakeholders over plans to transform the area particularly the immediate surroundings of the Stabroek Market, which was once a minibus park, into a civic space.
Lewis said that the plan is to beautify the central space in the city and to use it for the holding of public meetings and national events.
She said that in keeping with its mandate, the council is already reviewing a sketch of the proposal to recreate and beautify the area in addition to finalizing arrangements to introduce parking meters.
The PRO also shed light on the council’s strategy to relocate the minibus parks.
She explained that the Municipal and District Councils Act, empowers the Georgetown Municipality to regulate and control the Council’s roads.
According to Act, Council shall have power, subject to the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act, the Road Act and the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act to construct, maintain, repair, protect and carry out works for the betterment of Council roads in Council area and to regulate and control traffic thereon.
Section 274 of the Municipal and District Council Act also states that the Council can “establish, maintain and control parking; erect and maintain parking meters; regulate the standing and parking of vehicles on Council roads; erect and maintain traffic control signals and traffic signs on council roads; regulate the speed of vehicles on council roads; designate particular council roads as one-way roads or one specified direction; require vehicles to stop before entering or crossing any council road or to yield to other traffic; and also restrict the use of any council roads to vehicles of specified type or weights”.
Lewis said that the council would most likely relocate the minibus parking facilities to Kingston North/Cummingsburg, and Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
These spaces, she said, however will not facilitate all the minibuses or public transportation, only those plying the out of town routes such as Berbice and Linden.
While she did not disclose the number, the PRO admitted that the exercise is certainly costing the council millions of dollars.
The Georgetown M&CC has been making efforts to clear the Stabroek Market and surrounding areas of congestion caused by illegal vending and similar activities.
Hundreds of vendors have since been relocated to temporary spaces designated by the council. But there have been concerns about the council’s planning as it relates to relocation of the vendors and other fixtures.
On Sunday, Town Clerk Royston King spearheaded the relocation of more than 60 street barbers and cosmetologists from America, Longden, Croal and Regent Streets to a section of Merriman Mall.
The move is also said to be temporary. But King noted that it is important that cosmetologists and barbers ply their trade in an environment that does not compromise the Laws of the City and the health of other citizens.
According to King, cosmetologists and barbers should not operate in close proximity to food service providers. He reiterated that the Council is not trying to move anyone from the hub of economic activities, but the city is very congested. “Blocking the entrances to private premises and cutting hair on the streets is a health situation” King had said.
It was against this background, he said, that he identified a section on the Merriman Mall for the barbers and cosmetologists to do their work.
The Georgetown Municipality had expressed serious concern with the operations of roadside barbers and cosmetologists. From a Public Health perspective the operation is unsafe. In addition, it is a contravention of the Municipal and District Council (Act 28:01).
Part II Provisions Relating to Barbers’ Shop: states that no person shall act as a barber in or upon any public street or way or at any place within public view other than at a duly registered barber’s shop.”
Before a barber can commence operations he must be registered with the Mayor and City Council. The registration process includes a medical examination by the Council’s Medical Officer of Health, who will provide a medical certificate to the applicant deeming the applicant fit to carry out such an operation.
And according to the Town Clerk, “I urge you to carry out your work within the ambit of the law.”
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