Charity Market fire: Govt hopes to build new & modern facility on 15 acres of land

Some three weeks after fire had devastated the Charity Market in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Government is looking to acquire 15 acres of land to rebuild the facility into a more modern set-up.
Government has already committed to rebuilding a shed in the area for the vendors to resume plying their trade, but Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday said there are much bigger plans in store.
“Even if you look at the part that’s burnt out, it would not facilitate the growth of a modern market; It’s a narrow strip of land…
Whilst there may be a commitment to rebuild the shed there, I spoke with some of the vendors and I said we should do something major now, we should shift to a market of the future with modern facilities,” Jagdeo told a press conference.
However, he said, consultations would have to be done with the vendors, since some may not be keen on relocating.
“…because if they don’t wanna move, then no use you move the market. We’ve had that experience before…,” he said.
Nevertheless, the Vice President has already instructed Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal to identify some 15 acres of land near a new housing scheme that is being developed at Charity.
Moreover, Jagdeo said he was in discussion with a man from the area who has a sizeable plot of land in the area which he is willing to sell.
“I spoke with one gentleman who had 17 acres of land there. He wanted to sell, and I told the Regional Chair to follow up with him, but I don’t know what’s happening… apparently that’s very far away, and we don’t wanna take people too far away from the centre…,” Jagdeo explained.
It has been reported that the fire which erupted at the Charity Market on the evening of July 6 originated from an electrical meter in the market. Three firemen were injured whilst battling the blaze.
The Charity Market fire came months after the Parika Market Centre had been completely destroyed on February 10 by a raging inferno that devastated its structure with millions of dollars in goods inside. The Fire Service had disclosed that residue from a welding torch came into contact with nearby combustible materials, leading to that horrific fire. (G11)