Market, Minibus Union President expects greatness from new Gt Mayor

The President of both the United Minibus Union (UMU) and the Market Vendors Union, Eon Andrews on Tuesday during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times said he has great expectations from the newly elected Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine.
Among the matters Andrews is seeking to iron out with the new Mayor who takes office in January 2019 are the removal of market vendors and bus parks.
He said, “I am glad to know there is some fresh blood there and I also feel that there ought not to have been some people on the Council from the last Council. There should have been a wider sweep of those persons who are there. Other persons should have been brought in but they are there and one has to remember

that it’s not gunna be easy for him (Narine) because the Council is run by Committees and he may have an idea and influence certain decisions…I hope that he is given the support”.
In relation to the removal of the bus parks to facilitate the Stabroek Market Wharf vendors, Andrews noted, “We spoke with the City Works Committee that has to deal with that and take it to Statutory (Meeting) where he will be a part of the vote as it relates to the park but as it relates to the vendors the Union is going to write this new body”.
The head of the Unions explained he intends to write the new leaders of the Council where amicable decisions can be made, with regards to the vendors.
Andrews was keen to note that City Hall ought to put special attention on the vendors as the Town cannot run without their input. “You cannot manage the City without the input of those vendors and I mean genuine input not just having a crowd and people talking but more or less organized discussions,” he pointed out.
The vendors at the Stabroek Market Wharf were officially removed from their vending areas on September 14, when City Constables followed orders to barricade the area, after a two weeks’ notice was served to them.
The Public Infrastructure Ministry (MPI) has reportedly undertaken to rehabilitate the Stabroek Market Wharf, which has been in a deplorable state for many years.
Several bus parks were relocated to facilitate upgrade works to accommodate the vendors, including the Route 42 (Grove/Diamond to Georgetown) Park. A number of other parks were later relocated to facilitate the same venture, specifically to alleviate the traffic congestion in the area.
Bus drivers in the various operating zones have since been placed in different areas, but they have strongly condemned this development because of criminal activities and other inconveniences allegedly associated with those new areas.
The Timehri (Route 42) minibus operators who were placed on High Street on numerous occasions decried the area as they are not only now being affected by flood but criminal activities. That park was allowed to move back to its original spot for the Christmas season.