The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) had announced that the reopening of marketplaces around the city will be possible by today after they were closed last week for sanitisation amid the COVID-19 situation.
Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine
Georgetown Mayor, Ubraj Narine indicated via a statement that the closure was to facilitate the sanitisation of the area, as well as for the installation of hygienic facilities.
“This current closure will facilitate the sanitisation of the markets and the surrounding environment, sinks and other hygienic facilities will be installed and the space between stalls outside of the markets will be reexamined…Monday, April 6, 2020, is a possible date for reopening,” the statement said.
An issued notice distributed by the Georgetown municipality would have indicated that with effect from April 4, all markets would be closed until further notice. This included street vending, farmers, night sellers, snackettes and other categories of vendors.
Bourda Market
Farmers were only permitted to ply their trade at the Stabroek and Bourda Markets on Friday from 07:00h to 13:00h.
At the Stabroek Market, this provision was opened west of the Guyana Fire Service; and over at Bourda, it was at the Merriman Mall between Orange Walk and Light Street. No street selling was allowed on Sunday at the Albouystown Market.
But with this imposed timeline, shoppers have been flocking markets within these hours to purchase perishable items for the upcoming days ahead.
There have been confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
Since then, a list has been provided of all services considered essential during this time. These can remain open, and professionals falling into these mentioned brackets can continue to perform their duties: Caregivers such as nurses and home helpers; persons involved in collection, storage, purification and distribution of water for public use; hospitals, clinics and pharmacies; media and broadcasting services; medical and paramedical professionals.
Others include those individuals responsible for the handling or burial of deceased persons, or disposal of dead animals; disposal of sewage, garbage or refuse; security services (private); emergency first responders, the Joint Services; staff of pharmaceutical agencies; telecommunications providers; transport services and waterfront workers; supermarkets and gas stations.
