… decision to relocate will not be compromised – Town Clerk
BY RAMONA LUTHI
as the Stabroek Market relocation saga continues, vendors who defy the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) order to relocate are now having their merchandise along with their mobile carts seized.
On Thursday when Guyana Times visited City Hall, a number of ‘push carts’ were seen in the compound of the entity, as the Council ups the ante on defiant vendors.
One cart vendor, Arthur Douglas, insisted that he had not breached the law, yet his cart was impounded by
Displaced vendors vent their frustrations at City Hall
officers under the order of Assistant Superintendent at the City Constabulary, Gordon Langevine.
The vendor is accusing Langevine of discrimination, noting that he was harassed on numerous occasions in the past by the Assistant Superintendent.
“My cart was seized pulling and not violating the law. Yesterday Langevine see me pulling my cart down Water street and decide to come with his troops them and workers them and holla “Aye, ah tired seeing you with this cart hay. Selling with carts days done.’’
Other vendors also complained that since they have been displaced, their daily income has decreased significantly as their customers no longer know where to locate them.
“I losing a lot! Since they move we, we aint getting no kind of sale. Nobody aint know weh we deh no more. How I supposed to provide for my family if I can’t make money?’’ one vendor asked.
An angry clothes merchant accused the M&CC of blocking his only source of income. “They stopping every way for we to make a living honestly. The only thing left fuh we do is thief now,” the visibly frustrated vendor remarked.
Meanwhile, Town Clerk Royston King told Guyana Times that last week, vendors were informed that no carts should be stationed on the pavements and warned that there will be no compromise.
“Guyana Stores Bond, should be left free, that entire area should be left free, Muneshwars, that entire area should be left free, going right down to the area by KFC…that entire area should be left free, under by Demico area, that entire Stabroek Square should be left free and we’re not compromising on that at all. The decision to relocate the vendors will not be compromised,” King stated.
He explained that some carts were seized because the vendors continue to store them in the vicinity of John Fernandes Ltd, creating encumbrances for that entity.
“They (vendors) continue to store their carts at the back of the JP Santos place there, just by John Fernandes and the authorities at John Fernandes have complained lots of times that the carts there are impeding the flow of traffic, to the rice trucks and the container trucks.’’
Relocation benefits
King meanwhile noted that as a result of the relocation of the vendors from the Stabroek Square, there has been enhanced security, an organised vending area, a clean environment, and more space for pedestrians to utilise.
Meanwhile, he highlighted that as the vendors remain in the temporary location on Hadfield Street, a permanent location is being worked on.
King emphasised that the intention of this change was not to interrupt the work of vendors but to establish a balance between the duties of the M&CC and the lifestyle of the merchants.
“The idea is not to put anybody out of work, it is to ensure a good balance between their making a living and us carrying out our responsibilities, because our responsibility is not only the vendors alone. All the citizens of Georgetown have a stake in what happens in the city and you couldn’t cater to the vendors alone,” he stated.
Meanwhile, there are still scores of displaced vendors who are still to be offered a spot to continue to ply their trade.
Whether or not the remaining displaced vendors will be offered a place to continue business, is still a question to be answered by authorities at the municipality.
