Linden faces increased transport cost, pop-up non-essential businesses – Mayor

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased challenges for the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell has disclosed.

With months of countrywide curfew and social distancing restrictions, which has led to challenges in the social and economic environment, members of the community have been seeking alternative measures. According to Arrindell, one of the challenges currently being experienced by the municipality of Linden is an increase in non-essential business activities. Presently, the social distancing guidelines which are in place give more priority to essential businesses. As such, the Mayor said some stallholders in Linden, who are not sellers of essential items have now moved to incorporate items such as rice and sanitisers in order to remain open. Additionally, she noted that there has been an increase in non- essential businesses such as footwear and clothing stalls, as residents seek to make a living.
“We’ve had an increase in non-essential businesses opening, as persons are saying that there’s no package in place for them. And so they’ve started to work in order to garner to survive. So that has been a challenge for us, we are working with the police to see how we can curb this behaviour,” Arrindell said.
She added that while the current financial situation of residents is understandable at this time, they are being asked to desist from such practices. Arrindell admitted, however, that the Council presently does not have enough resources to assist these persons. Nevertheless, she highlighted the importance of not getting involved in such practices in light of a pandemic.
The municipality is also seeking to clamp down on shopkeepers who do not adhere regulations in place as it relates to wearing face masks during hours of work, as she pointed out that there have been complaints.
“We’re also facing a problem whereby some shopkeepers are not using masks…and so I know the Council is looking into having persons to observe and start to fine persons if they are not selling with their masks,” the Mayor said.
Additionally, she explained that there have been issues as it relates to an increase in public transportation costs in the community. In keeping with the social distancing guidelines, some drivers of public transportation are now opting to transport fewer passengers. This has led to increased costs in some cases.
“The other challenge I believe is the fare on the taxi park has gone up, bus fares have gone up,” Arrindell related.
She noted too that there are unconfirmed reports indicating that in some cases, the transportation costs have doubled or increased by at least 50 per cent. In light of this, Arrindell said she has spoken with the Business Ministry and President of the Minibus and Car Associations in an effort to meet with various transportation organisations this week so as to find a balance with regards to transportation costs.
“We have got to find a way to sit down with these drivers. Everybody is in this pandemic together. So we have to see how we could not [put] strain [on] the populace. So that is what we’re looking at”, she stated.
Arrindell also urged persons to limit their movements at this time, as she highlighted that there is still too much movement by Lindeners during the day.
“I think our greatest challenge is that we still believe that during the daytime there’s too much movement of people around and so our call to the residents is to as much as you possibly can, stay at home. Cases are rising and if we’re going to stop it we need to at least attempt to make a strategic lifestyle change. So we’re asking those persons who don’t have to be on the roadways to stay at home and if you have to just come quickly out, do what you have to and go back home”, she said.