The relocation of vendors at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, continues to attract tension as some of
Vendors constructing their new stalls
those who were instructed to remove from the public road to facilitate expansion works, continue to ply their trade there.
The vendors were given up to Monday (June 13) to remove their stalls but according to vendors who have constructed new stalls in the environs of the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School, disunity among colleagues has led to slow sales.
Guyana Times was told Monday that sales would improve if all of the sellers moved to the new location. As this is not happening, some threatened that if the others remain on the roadway, they too will return to the roads Tuesday despite being given instructions to the contrary.
Hemraj Heeralall, 54, who has been vending over three years in the area, told this newspaper that at midday, he only made $200 whereas who could have made thousands more under normal circumstances. He noted that all vendors should relocate.
This view was shared by Doreen, a greens vendor who noted that since she sells perishables, she cannot afford to stay inside the school street and allow her investments to go to waste: “We willing to go in but some people not going in, they not making no effort.”
Doreen explained that she returned to the public road after noticing that some of her fellow vendors remained outside.
Meanwhile Doreen Cameron a clothes vendor, explained that as a single parent, she finds it quite expensive to relocate. She noted that with her mounting bills – telephone and electricity, she has insufficient finances to make the move.
She told Guyana Times on Saturday that apart from her own daughter, she maintains her niece and elderly mother.
Vendor Dolly who moved into her relocated stall told this newspaper that the slow sales are affecting her finances. She noted that this will hinder her ability to repay her house mortgage, which has six years remaining.
Vendors are calling for a sign to be erected in front of the street identifying the new location, and for something to be done about the vendors who are not cooperating.
An official from the Communities Ministry visited the area to assess the plight of the vendors.
On Friday last some 65 vendors of Vreed-en-Hoop agreed to be relocated to facilitate works under the West Coast Demerara Road Project. However, there is a dispute over the land which the vendors were to occupy. Godfrey Bess supposedly has paperwork to prove that the land, said to be government reserve, belongs to him.
Despite this claim, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure gave the vendors permission to construct new stalls in the environs of the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School.
Originally the vendors were to be moved to a tarmac in Pouderoyen that was ineptly constructed for a market, but they rejected this proposal.
When Guyana Times spoke with vendors on Saturday, the majority said they do not have an issue with the relocation but noted that Bess threatened to dismantle their stalls.
When Guyana Times revisited the location Monday, no stalls were dismantled.
It was at a meeting with Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson that some 65 vendors agreed to relocate. While it was stated that the move was only temporary, the vendors in reality will not be allowed to return to their former location.
