WHEN it comes to vending in Guyana, the culture of roadside vending seems to be something which is not easily departed from because although we have seen efforts to have some semblance of order, vendors seem to want to continue this trend. We saw the construction of markets and market tarmacs which were done not only to bring order to vending, but to ensure that consumers can have proper places to shop, since what was regarded as market places before were unsanitary and impassable in the rainy season.
I think that despite efforts to provide better facilities, people still seem to prefer to erect stalls by the roadside to sell their produce. They complain that when the market is a few doors down the street, people would not venture that far to purchase their produce but they wouldn’t try to take a chance. I believe that if the vendors remove their stalls from the street corners and along the roadways and utilize these markets that have been constructed, then people will go into the markets to buy, but the problem is that people do not want to go.
We can’t sit and blame the Government for constructing facilities which are not used; the people have to take the other step. The facilities are provided and it is up to the people to utilize the facilities instead of allowing them to remain empty.
The Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and regional administrations should start on a campaign again to take vending off the streets so that people would make better use of the facilities constructed for that purpose.