THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development will, for 2014, be zooming in on conditions existing at markets and tarmacs, which authorities have spent millions of dollars to provide and, in some cases, rehabilitate.Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr Norman Whittaker yesterday told reporters that there must be transformation when it comes to unhygienic conditions existing at some markets.

Speaking at a press conference held in the ministry’s boardroom at Fort Street, Kingston, Georgetown, Minister Whittaker said emphasis will be placed on ensuring that there are washroom facilities, adequate drains and gutters at these places of commerce.

“The whole idea is to make the conditions hygienic,” he stressed.

To this end, several market management committees will be established in 2014 that will consist of, inter alia, representatives of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and vendors.

Whittaker further informed that market funds will be managed in a separate account. He said the Local Government Ministry welcomes the US$1M made available to Guyana under a Solid Waste Programme, of which $55M will go towards municipalities so that they can have such works done.

Whittaker also spoke to the issue of illegal vending across the city, which he said will also be addressed in the coming year.
Just last month, he told a news conference that persons engaged in the practice at roadsides are not doing so under proper sanitary and healthy conditions. In fact, most of those vendors sell consumer items, and as such they are required to do so in a proper sanitary facility.

The ministry has moved to establish either a tarmac or a market place in every neighbourhood for the convenience of sellers. Roadside sellers, he said, impede the flow of traffic and allow criminal elements to penetrate certain areas.

He reiterated that the tarmacs and other facilities provided in the neighbourhoods are there for persons to sell in an orderly manner, and he noted the recent acquisitions by those at Corriverton in Berbice and at Timehri on the East Bank of Demerara, who were relocated to the extended facilities constructed for their use.

Minister Whittaker said those sellers were able to remove their businesses from operating on the road shoulders and they will now vend in an orderly manner in facilities prepared for them.
Written By Telesha Ramnarine