Market rehabilitation must not become displacement — APNU

Jul 19, 2026 News

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– Vendors shouldn’t pay the price for poorly planned projects

(Kaieteur News) – A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has cautioned the government against letting its market rehabilitation projects result in the displacement of vendors.

Member of Parliament (MP) Saiku Andrews told the media on Friday that the rehabilitation programme, led by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, has the potential to improve commercial conditions, public health, and economic opportunities for vendors and their communities. But he stressed that success will depend on careful planning, meaningful consultation, and disciplined execution — not public relations exercises or ceremonial sod-turnings. He also pointed to the Ministry’s strained relationship with the Georgetown municipality as a further challenge to the programme’s success.

“We are concerned that the rule of law is never suitable to the PPP/C [People’s Progressive Party Civic] except when it is in opposition. APNU is extremely concerned that the overly ambitious agenda of five sod-turnings in two weeks is on track to maintain the PPP/C’s failed record of poorly executed and over-cost projects that often lack adequate public input,” Andrews said.

Andrews said the Ministry’s recent public statements have raised more questions than they’ve answered. In several cases, he noted, projects have been announced without publishing complete implementation schedules, final designs, contractor information, relocation plans, construction phases, or arrangements for maintaining market access during the works.

Given that Guyana has oil revenues at its disposal, he argued, there is no excuse for a shortfall in expertise or benchmarking in any development initiative — and the public should not be expected to accept vague assurances while vendors risk lost income, unsafe temporary conditions, reduced customer traffic, or prolonged disruption.

Before any rehabilitation work begins, Andrews said, the Ministry should publish — for each affected market — the approved project scope and design, total cost and funding source, contractor and supervising authority, start and completion dates, construction and relocation phases, the number of vendors affected, the temporary accommodation plan, and arrangements covering sanitation, drainage, electricity, security, waste disposal, traffic, parking, and customer access, along with a clear process for reporting breaches, delays, or unsafe conditions.

He further insisted that every displaced vendor be guaranteed adequate temporary accommodation before construction affects their existing stall, with vending areas that are safe, weather-resistant, accessible, properly lit, and equipped with water and sanitation where needed.

“A temporary arrangement that leaves vendors exposed to rain, heat, flooding, theft, poor sanitation or reduced customer access cannot be considered adequate. No vendor should be forced to move on the basis of a verbal promise,” Andrews said, adding that each affected vendor should receive written notice of their temporary location, the expected duration of displacement, the conditions governing that space, and the terms for returning to the rehabilitated market.

Andrews warned against a gradual expansion of disruption — what he called a “creep of inconvenience” — in which limited early inconvenience grows into blocked entrances, shrinking vending space, reduced parking, dust, noise, unsafe walkways, drainage problems, construction delays, and declining customer traffic.

He is urging vendors and market patrons to stay vigilant throughout the process: documenting conditions before construction begins, keeping records of commitments made by officials and contractors, reporting hazards promptly, and insisting that agreed access routes and vending arrangements be maintained.

“Vendor representatives should be included in regular project planning and monitoring meetings. Progress reports should be issued publicly, and any delay, variation in cost or alteration to the approved design should be explained without delay,” he said. “Market rehabilitation must not become market displacement. Development should improve the circumstances of vendors and patrons, not transfer the burden of poor planning onto those who depend on the markets for their livelihoods and daily needs.”

APNU is calling on the Ministry to replace its fragmented announcements with a transparent, comprehensive implementation framework, and to ensure genuine consultation happens before — not after — decisions are made, treating vendors, municipal authorities, community representatives, and market patrons as partners in the process.

The party said the projects will ultimately be judged by whether markets are completed on time, within budget, and to acceptable international standards, without imposing unnecessary hardship on vendors and customers. APNU said it will continue to monitor the process and advocate for policies that produce meaningful, positive change for citizens.

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• APNU, displacement, Market, rehabilitation

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