Consultation with displaced vendors underway

Oct 14, 2016 News

Vendors were afforded an opportunity to view the proposed designs by City Hall for the renovation of the Stabroek Market, Bourda Green and the New Vendors Arcade on Water Street. These plans were revealed by City officials, as the consultation aspect of these proposed projects began yesterday.
Addressing vendors were City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, Town Clerk Royston King, and Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee, Lionel Jaikaran, among other Council members and staff.
Ryan Boodhoo, a stall owner in Stabroek market, who was representing the Stabroek Market Stallholders Association, said the ideas put forward by the council are “superb”. However, Boodhoo noted that not much was changed in the design for Stabroek Market, when compared to other designs presented.
“From my knowledge, Stabroek Market happens to be a landmark of the country…I think we need a better facility.” Boohdoo noted.
Boodhoo said that the other design catered for parking and elevators at these potential facilities, however, this was not the case with Stabroek market.
Mayor Chase-Green in responding to Boodhoo said that there are plans to add a second floor to the back of Stabroek Market. However she pointed out that because the building is a heritage landmark, the council does not want to change the architecture of the Stabroek Market in a major way.
The Town Clerk noted however that the council would be willing to reconfigure the internal aspect of Stabroek Market to give it a more modern look.
Another vendor enquired about the former Guyana National Co-operative Bank (GNCB) building, just opposite where the displaced vendors are located, citing it as an ideal location that would not need much renovation.
The Mayor however informed the vendor that the building in question was sold, and is now privately owned. The vendor also enquired whether the building could have been compulsorily acquired, just like the land for the New Vendors Arcade on Water Street, under the previous administration.
The Mayor explained that compulsory acquisitions can only be done by the government of day, noting that those powers are not invested in the council.
Another vendor, representing persons vending at Merriman Mall, questioned how the council was planning to encourage more unity and cooperation among vendors and the council, when vendors do not know the persons representing them.
Councilors, he added, need to work along with vendors, and should introduce themselves. This way, the vendor said, issues can be raised with the relevant authorities.
The vendor also touched on the provisions in the Laws for vending, as mentioned by the Mayor. He noted that the problem with all the provisions and laws is that there is no enforcement.
“There are laws and bylaws that are simply not being enforced, and only when things get totally out of order and to a magnitude where the press(media) can take advantage of it and the opposition can take advantage of it, you people(the council) look bad.” The vendor said.
The Mayor made mention of the sale of illicit drugs at the markets during her presentation, the very outspoken vendor asked “where are your people?” in relation to the matter. He noted that this is an issue at every market, adding that the City Constabulary is well aware of what is going on.
“They see it, they are part of it….if we want to get back some kind of order you have to be very serious as Mayor, the Town Clerk has to be very serious with his job as Town Clerk. Blind eyes are being turned to many things….so when you going to put all kinds of systems in place, saying we have to get rid of this and that, you have to get rid of some of your own,” the vendor explained.
Day one on the consultation focused on issues facing vendors and finding long tern solution to the vending issues facing the City. Today’s session will focus on the relocation of Parliament View vendors.
The council was given a December 31 deadline to remove vendors from the privately-owned property on Lombard and Hadfield Streets.

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Consultation with displaced vendors underway

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