Tempers flare at City Hall over Stabroek Market clock repairs

In 2016, the United States embassy in Guyana donated US$41,000 for the rehabilitation of the iconic Stabroek Market Clock and since then the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown have been battling to have it repaired. At Monday’s statutory meeting, tempers flared and emotions ran wild as the M&CC tried to decide on a course of action in relation to the clock.
Town Clerk Royston King said while the money sits in the coffers of City Hall, the municipality simply cannot afford to have the clock repaired at this time. He explained that according to the engineers, before the clock is repaired the entire area that houses the clock would have to be rehabilitated.
“We should do the housing because the housing is in a real terrible condition that

is to say the stairway and all the other parts that house the clock,” King said.
The Town Clerk noted that they were trying to execute the rehab works but did not have the capacity and would have tendered for it twice but noted they are not in the financial position to have it done. Only two companies qualified for the works and estimates it to be $24 million and $32 million respectively.
Based on that information, at the last Markets and Public Health Committee meeting it was decided that the Committee Chairman, Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikaran, would approach the Government for some assistance.
At Monday’s statutory meeting, Jaikaran noted that at the time when the decision was taken, the city was and still remains in a financial crisis hence the reason for the proposal to approach the Government. He noted that they were informed that the contractor was willing to complete the work in credit but said that the committee was against this.
“I do not agree that we should be taking credit especially when we cannot honour our employees’ wages bills. The last decision I made is that the Deputy Town Clerk would get a letter addressed for us from the Council to say what has happened and this is where we stand,” he said.
However, Chairman of the Finance Committee, Oscar Clarke, noted that the Council missed its window of opportunity since the repairs to the housing area was never brought up during the budget consultations.
A number of Councillors supported the idea of approaching the Government, noting that the clock is a symbol of national patrimony and as such the Government would be on board to assist with its rehabilitation.
Nevertheless, in the usual manner of butting heads with the Council, Town Clerk King strongly advised against approaching the Government noting that the Council should engage its faculties and look at other options. “When you go to the Government for money you compromise your authority and autonomy and we see that happening. The Council must engage its faculties and use the provisions in the law and have its own funds to carry out works. We do not have a credit card with Government and we must engage our faculties to decide to how we would approach our work,” King said.
Mayor Patricia Chase Green said the Council should not be in the habit of going to the Government for everything, noting that they must explore revenue-earning options.
According to the National Trust, Governor Cornelius H Kortwright officially opened the Stabroek Market on November 1, 1881. Built partly on land and water, this steel structure was designed by an American engineer, McKay and serves as one of the main hubs for economic activities in the capital city.