Town Clerk acted alone in dismantling stalls outside Yhip building – City Mayor

Jan 05, 2026 News

---

(Kaieteur News) – Approximately 15 vendors operating around the Bourda Market area, specifically in front of Yhip’s Bakery at the corner of Robb and Alexander Streets, Georgetown, were left distressed Sunday morning after their stalls were dismantled following a high court order.

Vendors had received a final notice to vacate the area in compliance with a high court order prohibiting vending at that location, late 2025, according to a report from Demerara Waves.

“Failure to comply with this final notice will result in the mayor and councillors of the city of Georgetown, through its city constabulary department, taking enforcement action which will include removal of vending items and other actions as permitted by law,” town clerk, Candace Nelson was quoted as saying.

However, Mayor Alfred Mentore clarified with this publication that the removal of the stalls was not authorised by the mayor and city council. According to him, the action was taken unilaterally by the town clerk, without the council’s approval.

Mayor Mentore further disclosed that the council intends to approach the high court on Thursday to request additional time to facilitate the relocation of the vendors to Merriman’s Mall, located between Orange Walk and Cummings Street.

The affected vendors had been operating around the private building, blocking its entrance. They had occupied the parapet space for several years before being ordered by the court, approximately two weeks ago, to vacate the building’s entryway. Many vendors, most of whom are women with children, said they were unsure where to relocate and therefore remained at the site until their stalls were dismantled on Sunday.

Now without a place to sell and with vending being their primary source of income, the vendors are appealing to the city council for urgent assistance. They explained that the former owner of the building had given them permission to operate there. However, after the owner’s death, a relative sought their removal through the high court. Although the court matter is still ongoing, the vendors said they were issued notices and their stalls were dismantled.

“This issue started since 2023. The mayor tried for us and extended the time, but now they come with a rush and break up everything,” one vendor told this publication.

Kaieteur News on Sunday morning visited the location and observed that all stalls surrounding the private building had been removed, while city workers were clearing debris. Vendors who remained in the area, expressed deep distress over their situation.

Kavita Roberts, a mother of three, said she has been vending for the past 10 years and relies on it as her sole source of income.

“I have rent to pay. My children are three, four, and six. The place they want us to go, our customers won’t go there. There is no security, junkies and smokers are there. There are 13 women and one man, who will secure the building? I have to come out and sell. They will have to move me every day. I need to provide for my kids,” she said.

Another vendor, Nanda Ramarse, who has been selling in the area for nearly 50 years, said she does not know what she will do next.

“What would I do? I have been here since I was a small girl. For our goods, we grab whatever we could, and the rest gone,” she said.

Kenisha (only name given), another vendor and mother, expressed frustration and concern for her children. “I am an angry vendor right now. All of our things gone. We don’t mind moving, but we need time to get the money up to build the mall so all of us can do there.  Now tomorrow is school, how we children going to school? How are we living? We need help,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Mentore speaking with Kaieteur News, explained that the council played no part in dismantling the stalls. “The mayor and councillors didn’t approve that dismantling. It was an administrative decision led by the town clerk. To do that, based on some mandamus, an order of the court.  The fact of the matter is, even though the mandamus speaks about the removal, there was no timeline upon the mandamus.”

The mayor suggested that the town clerk may have acted based on directives from external authorities.

“This was an administrative decision taken by the town clerk, maybe with instructions from higher-ups, maybe from the government. We didn’t give any instructions to do this, she acted unilaterally on this matter,” he said

He also noted that the matter is currently before the court, with contempt proceedings scheduled to be heard on January 9, 2026.

Additionally, Mentore emphasised that the council has been working to keep vendors in the area until proper relocation arrangements are finalised, and vendors are being provided with proper utilities such as water, shelter and proper security. “I have been working to keep the people there and to allow for good sense to prevail, so that moving the people wasn’t about moving the people only by that location, but it is a greater plan to move everybody to the Merrimans’ mall.  I was going to go to court on Thursday to seek to ask the judge for some additional time and for us to be able to work it out with the person who made the application so that we can have additional time, based on our budget  to be able to have money to be able to get that place done to accommodate, not only these vendors, but the entire street,”  the mayor said.

---

• Bourda Market, town clerk, vendors, Yhip’s Bakery

---