TOWN Clerk Royston King has said that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has “big” plans for the vendors at the Parliament View Mall who were relocated there temporarily from in front of the Stabroek Market Square.He, however, refused to state specifically what plans are in place for the permanent relocation of the said vendors who are now occupying the site on Hadfield Street that housed the old Royal Castle Building.

“We have big, big plans for those vendors,” is all he would say when asked by the Chronicle recently on the sidelines of the council’s statutory meeting.

But a source at City Hall has informed the Chronicle that the M&CC has asked the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to occupy an open lot that is close-by the Ministry of Social Protection, in the vicinity of Public Buildings.

The M&CC is reportedly awaiting a response.

Meanwhile, vendors at the Parliament View Mall are currently allowed to vend at certain locations that have been prohibited recently, but only until December 31.

They will be given further directions in the new year, the source offered.

Vendors were allowed to go back to the ‘Dread Shop’ area that is next to K&VC and is opposite the Soesdyke minibus park. Some other vendors were allowed to occupy spaces in front of the old GNCB Bank, while others were permitted to vend along America, Longden and Commerce Streets.

Although it may not be easy for these vendors to remove from these spots at the end of the month, the source said they are fully aware that this is a temporary arrangement in place and hence they are expected to cooperate and move.

Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee Mr. Lionel Jaikaran had recently told the council that the committee has completed its work with regard to the permanent relocation of the said vendors, and it is now up to the Town Clerk to proceed with the matter.

The Town Clerk had in the past said that the City Council had explored the ideas of installing a double-decker on the ‘Bourda Green’ and extending the Stabroek Market in order to accommodate the ultimate relocation of the vendors.

“We have received an extension at Parliament View Mall that will go until December. Again, I wish to publicly announce my gratitude to the owner for his support and understanding of our efforts at the M&CC,” King had said.

“We are not in any way attempting to take bread from anyone, but we’re trying to organise the City in a way that will make it (comparable to) modern cities and that would allow it to stand shoulder to shoulder with the great cities of the world,” he said.

The Town Clerk said he is hoping at the expiration of this extension not to have to seek any further extensions.

“There are several options on the table. We are looking at a double-decker in Bourda Green, and we’re looking at the extension of the Stabroek Market, among others.”