Bourda Market revamp: Vendors to be temporarily relocated as M&CC installs security cameras, billboard

As the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) seeks to enhance safety at the city’s markets, plans are underway to temporarily relocate several vendors from Bourda Market.
The move will facilitate the installation of surveillance cameras and a billboard in the area as part of a broader initiative to improve security for both stallholders and shoppers.

The relocation of these vendors was revealed by Town Clerk Candace Nelson on Tuesday during the council’s 2025 budget presentation. According to Nelson during a site visit to the market on Tuesday morning it was relayed to the council that the company responsible for installing the cameras would like to being works shortly.
“I attended that visit this morning, the site visit with the police, the city constabulary and members of the administration, all members of the administration. And it was relayed then that the Pixel, who is responsible for installing the cameras, would like to start that project by Thursday. As a result of that, they asked that we have the area cleared so that they can start doing measurements and to bring in their equipment from tomorrow.”
In this regard the town clerk revealed that some 18 vendors who ply their trade in the market would have to be temporarily relocated for approximately one month to facilitate construction works.
As apart of efforts to ensure persons who will be displaced temporarily aren’t severely affected the town clerk proposed placing vendors between Bourda Street and Orange Walk in the interim.
“Instead of having that drive through from Alexander Street right through to Orange Walk, we can stop it at Bourda Street. So those persons who are driving through, they can come up to Bourda Street, then head north into Bourda Street to catch North Road,” Nelson added.
“And we use that piece of road between Bourda Street and Orange Walk to accommodate those vendors temporarily until the construction is complete. We make like a path in the middle and accommodate them temporarily until, for instance, we can find a more permanent solution for them.”

Short-term disruptions
Meanwhile, Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore preemptively addressed potential concerns surrounding the temporary relocation of vendors, emphasizing that short-term disruptions are sometimes necessary in the interest of long-term development. He reassured the public that the relocation is temporary and forms part of a broader initiative aimed at improving safety, infrastructure, and overall conditions at Bourda Market.

‘So, at Christmas time, you want to fix up your house, you want to make it look nice, you want to put on new blinds and so on and so forth. It’s up to the whole house to fix it back. In this case, in order for us to get more security in the area, the vendors who were there have to adjust. And we’re literally going to be asking for some adjustment with them.”
According to the Town Clerk, vendors were informed of the planned relocation during a site visit on Tuesday morning, and no objections were recorded at that time. Nevertheless, Mayor Alfred Mentore has scheduled a follow-up engagement to ensure that any concerns vendors may have are heard and addressed as the process moves forward.
“I would want to believe that as a council, we should pay a visit tomorrow itself and let them know while we also arrange to give share these different notes and let them understand that in this place, you know, we’re going to be accommodating you in this in this area here where people could come and still shop.”
The mayor added “So what we will do, is we’ll do that visit tomorrow, we will set a time to confirm what you were saying.”
A similar initiative was implemented at Stabroek Market in 2024, where new surveillance cameras and monitoring screens were installed. The upgrade received positive feedback from both vendors and shoppers, who welcomed the enhanced security. Many vendors expressed appreciation for the measures, noting that the increased surveillance has helped deter theft and other criminal activity within the market.