BOURDA Market stallholders are reluctant to pay rent increases which were imposed by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), on the ground that the existing physical conditions are deplorable.

One of them, Mr. Richard Taylor visited the Guyana Chronicle Tuesday and reported that between 50 and 75 per cent hike was announced by the Georgetown Clerk of Markets, Mr. Schulder Griffith, at a meeting with a cross-section of them.

Taylor, who has been vending for 30 years, said the new tariffs were to be charged since last month but many took objection to paying, through fear that, like several years ago, the payment of raised charges would not result in the implementation of a project to carry out renovations at Stabroek Market, as well.

He said, despite the unfulfilled promise, they are continuing to bear the extra expense while the environment continues to deteriorate.

Taylor said they are operating with very poor sanitation, inadequate security, leaky roof and guttering, vagrants living around and obnoxious odour that turns away customers.

He said burglars broke into two stalls one night earlier this week and a sewing machine was amongst the booty carted off.

To correct their situation, Taylor said stallholders are demanding that the premises get a general facelift and no upward movement of fees until the improvements are evident.

He said they detailed their requests in a letter to the Mayor, expressing disagreement with the arbitrary raising of the rental and, although that led to a stay of the increases, it is now public knowledge that the municipality intends to effect them for this month, amidst their protestation.

In light of this, Taylor said the stallholders are seeking legal advice to take action against the move.

According to him, they, however, need more to resuscitate the Markets Stallholders Committee, which would then be tasked with representing their interest, as decided at a meeting Wednesday.

He said an attorney-at-law has been retained to represent them should the M&CC begin to charge the extra without rectifying the problems about which they complained.

Deputy Clerk of Markets, Mr. Errol Brisport, when contacted yesterday, said Grifith and other officials will have discussions with Bourda Market vendors today at City Hall.