Minister Norman Whittaker and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Collin Croal recently met with vendors of the Albouystown and Bourda Municipal Markets to discuss improvements to the market infrastructure and other necessary facilities with a view of improving the environment in which vendors and shoppers conduct their business on a daily basis. 

This visit is one of several aimed at providing the Minister and his Team with a firsthand view of the existing environment, and to have an appreciation of what is required to be done to enhance this environment under the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme which is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.
The vendors who met with the Hon. Norman Whittaker and his team were very thorough and candid as they expressed their concerns with respect to the issues that were causing them discomfort and inconvenience. These include poor drainage facilities which contribute to constant flooding within the market; inadequate electrical installation and lack of proper security which has led to the upsurge in criminal activities within the market environs; inadequate sanitary facilities and poor roofing conditions.  Leakages in the roof were cited as another major contributor to flooding in the market. The vendors also pointed out uneven flooring within the market structures which often resulted in water taking longer to recede in lower sections. The stallholders asserted that the poor/inadequate infrastructure has caused them millions of dollars in damaged goods, and they are faced with the reality of the condition of the markets on a daily basis.
Minister Whittaker and his team were also given as detailed outline of how the poor plumbing systems contribute to inadequate water supply to the market. The vendors pointed out that on many occasions they were forced to close their stalls due to insufficient supply water.
The Bourda, Stabroek and Albouystown Markets fall directly under the management of the Major and City Council which over the years have been heavily criticised for the poor an ineffective management of the facilities.
Whittaker assured the vendors that Government of Guyana has provided resources to improve the environment and aesthetics of the City of Georgetown. He assured them that the markets he was visiting and those who use the facilities  were going to be beneficiaries of these improvements under the “Clean-Up My Country” Programme. Vendors were elated and gave early indication that they were excited about the prospects of the improvements from which they would soon benefit.