Vendors call for King to be sacked

… says he is turning “a blind eye” to their stolen goods

Scores of vendors gathered outside Stabroek Market in Georgetown on Thursday calling for the removal of Town Clerk Royston King.
The vendors are claiming that King is turning a blind eye to their woes, which includes market office staff allegedly stealing their goods. The vendors are alleging that hundreds of thousands of dollars are being stolen by the staff and nothing is being done to address the issue.
“Royston King got to go! As well as Mr Gordon! They intend to make we suffer,” and “We making a living. Legally. We ain’t selling drugs!” the angered sellers shouted.
President of the Guyana Market Vendors Union (GMVU), Eon Andrews, who participated in the protest, stated that the Brickdam Police Station refused to document the vendors’ report on the matter.
“Carter was told that they would not take her statement on the issue. No reason for this was given,” he said.
One of the vendors Carol Carter stated that over 300 pairs of slippers were stolen from her stall, which was “locked up” and unattended, for a short while. “I left to go do some business, and come back and see all the slippers that I had hang up right around my stalls, gone. Over $300,000 in goods they thief!” she argued.
The vendors believe that they are being targeted because of their position within the Market Association.
Acting Deputy Market Clerk, who identified herself as “Ms Smith” stated that she was unaware of what had happened and promised to investigate the matter.
This is the second time for the week that calls were made for King to be removed. On Tuesday, Councillor of Constituency Six Andrea Marks convened a silent protest in the midst of the statutory meeting, calling for King to be booted.
She had stated that she decided to protest because of the Town Clerk’s decision to have vendors from around Bourda Market, on Robb Street, cease selling without any prior notice.
She accused King of lying repeatedly and being “drunk with power”.