Repairs yet to be effected on Stabroek Wharf

Aug 30, 2016 News

The Stabroek Market wharf collapsed two years ago and to date the dilapidated section is still to benefit from repairs. In September 2014, a section of the roof had caved in and this happened again in March 2015.

The current state of the wharf at Stabroek when approaching the speedboat loading area.

Earlier this year, it was announced that a total of $400M is to be spent on rehabilitating the wharf. The structure was to be dismantled completely and replaced with a modern structure similar to a mall. Town Clerk Royston King had said on one occasion that the money had been catered for in the 2016 budget.
To carry out the rehabilitation work, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council had said that it would partner with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
When the aforementioned section of the roof collapsed it had destroyed a number of stalls in the process. At that time, Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba had made a decision to close the wharf until repairs were done.
She had said that she consulted with the former Ministry of Local Government, as well as the then Ministry of Public Works, to conduct an assessment of the situation. She announced that the rehabilitation project would have been undertaken in partnership with these government agencies.
In 2015, the situation worsened, whereby a stall at the back of the wharf was smashed when another section of the roof came crashing down. Presently, the remaining portion of the roof is on the verge of collapsing.
It was announced by the present Town Clerk last June that the Council had sought assistance from the Public Infrastructure Ministry and is currently awaiting word from the agency regarding the way forward with the project.
Due to a delay in receiving a response, King said that Council has shifted attention to the Kitty Market. The Market Office was also temporarily relocated from the Stabroek headquarters.
Earlier this year the Council had publicized a plan which depicted a modernised wharf to be built. The only notable addition to the wharf since has been the decorative lights which have been mounted at the front of the market.
The situation is quite an alarming one, as the roof is a serious threat to the wellbeing of persons who traverse and conduct business in that section of the market. During a visit to the back of the market yesterday by this publication, it was observed that some of the stalls are still being occupied by vendors.
Additionally, in some areas, vagrants have set up small living quarters for themselves. The state of the wharf is an eyesore for persons who use the Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown speedboat crossing, and for tourists on cruise ships that dock at Georgetown.

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