This gentleman should have been given a stall at the Bartica Market

Mar 16, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
It is unfortunate enough that applicants for seven new stalls recently built by the Bartica Mayor and Town Council (BM&TC) feel betrayed and shortchanged that a transparent process was not used in the issuance of these commercial locations. It is even more heartbreaking to see that those issued these very stalls are either relatives or very close to some of those seated on the Council.
Yet, the decision to toss the application of Mr. Winston James, who happens to be disabled aside, is even more heart-rending.
Like other vendors, Mr. James applied for one of the new stalls constructed by the Bartica Council. He had been vending with an umbrella and a small table in front of the Bartica Market for more than three years and pays a fee for doing so. Mr. James is disabled. He is in need of a hip replacement and as such, is not able to move around much and uses crotches. Vending has been his main income and with that, he cares for his family.
Mr. James was extremely hopeful that he would have been considered for one of the stalls, since he had been vending in the location for a long time, that he has a good financial record with the Council and that he met their requirements, the latter being indicated by Bartica Mayor, Mr. Gifford Marshall.
I had personally taken Mr. James and his wife to the Mayor to ensure all the procedures were followed to allow Mr. James an opportunity. It was at that very meeting that the Mayor declared that persons who were occupying spots and relocated to accommodate the building of the stalls would be given first preference to acquire the stands in the same manner that they were occupying their spots.
Lo and behold, Bartica residents saw persons known to them winning these stalls. Persons occupying the spots were not given first preference and to date applicants are unaware as to how those “friends and family members” of Councilors won those stalls.
The Bartica United Youth Development Group (BYUDG) is appalled by the heartlessness shown in the case of Mr. James. The body has been approached by several other persons seeking transparency in the issuance of these stalls. The BYUDG calls on the Bartica Municipality to correct their blatant disregard for procedure and transparency.
The BUYDG will be seeking a meeting with the BM&TC to have this matter addressed. If the matter is not addressed at this level, the BUYDG will waste no time in seeking a High Court ruling that the issuance of the stalls was illegal and to have them reversed.
Yours faithfully,
Micah Williams
General President
Bartica United Youth Development Group

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