Stabroek vendors to be temporarily relocated – City Mayor

Mar 12, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Vendors currently operating in front of the Stabroek Market will be temporarily relocated to nearby roadways as rehabilitation and beautification works begin on the market’s canopy.

The decision was announced by the Mayor and City Council as part of a phased plan to repair sections of the market’s roof and improve the drainage system, with works expected to commence on Monday.

Mayor Alfred Mentore, who met with vendors on Wednesday, explained that the relocation will allow contractors to safely carry out the repairs while ensuring vendors can continue operating.

Under the arrangement, vendors occupying the northern canopy area will first be moved to the road entrance. As the work progresses, vendors from the southern canopy will then be moved to the road entrance after the northern side is completed.

“They are right under the canopy. So, what we are doing is bringing them out on the road and we are blocking off the streets so that they can still sell on the road—those who choose to sell,” Mentore told reporters.

“Those who don’t want to sell for the week will wait until the place is fully rectified so that they can move back in,” he added.

The mayor said the rehabilitation project is expected to begin on Monday, giving vendors until Friday to move to the designated roadside spaces.

The works will be carried out in two phases, with the first stage covering the northern side of the market and the second extending to the southern end.

“One week for the first phase, from the north side to the centre of the market, and another week from the centre all the way to the end. So, in about two weeks the project will be completed,” Mentore said.

During the construction period, vendors will be required to either relocate to the assigned roadside areas or remain away from the worksite once scaffolding and safety nets are installed.

To facilitate the relocation, the city council has coordinated with the City Police and the Chief Constabulary to block sections of the road to allow vendors to operate temporarily.

Engineers will also mark out restricted zones and install safety nets and scaffolding before contractors begin work. The mayor said the safety infrastructure is expected to be in place by Saturday ahead of Monday’s start date.

Mentore acknowledged that the relocation may cause temporary inconvenience but stressed that the work is necessary to improve the market environment.

“We understand there will be some inconvenience. Like I have always said, anytime you want success or betterment, there will be some inconvenience,” he told vendors while adding, “You might lose a couple of dollars, but you are going to be better off at the end of the day. You’ll have a better place to sell.”

He also emphasized the role vendors play in the city’s economy. “Vending is very important. It is a very important aspect of people contributing to the economy. We want to work with vendors, as vendors work with us,” Mentore said.

The rehabilitation initiative forms part of a broader effort by the council to fully restore the Stabroek Market.

Meanwhile, several vendors who spoke with reporters said they were willing to relocate but called for strict enforcement to ensure that all vendors comply with the plan.

One clothing vendor who has been operating at the market for more than 11 years said she had already moved in preparation for the project.

“I’m okay with it so far, but what I think they need to do is enforce the system more strongly because some are moving and some are not,” she said.

“I moved since Sunday because I want things to go smoothly. If they say everybody has to move, then everybody has to move,” the vendor added.

Another vendor, Kota Thornhill, who has been selling clothing at the market for 38 years, also supported the initiative but urged authorities to ensure proper order during the relocation.

“I love everything about it, but the council police need to enforce that everyone be pushed forward so the work will start and finish and everybody can get back to business as usual,” Thornhill said.

“I want them to go into the right place as they said, and the police could be there to make sure everybody stays in a certain way so that customers passing by can have that free flow of traffic.”

Despite the temporary disruption, Thornhill said many vendors welcomed the project.

“We all have to understand that it is something for our benefit. We wanted this for a long time, so we are glad that they are coming around now,” he added.

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• beautification works, City Mayor, Stabroek Market, Stabroek vendors, vendors

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