At City Hall meeting…
THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) convened a meeting with them last Friday, in response to protests by Bourda Market vendors and stallholders against the recent increase in rent.

Some of the stallholders and vendors who turned up at last Friday’s meeting.

Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Markets Committee, Mr. Robert Williams, Clerk of Markets, Mr. Schulder Griffith and his Deputy, Mr. Errol Brisport were among the officials in attendance at City Hall.

Public Relations Officer, Mr. Royston King, who chaired the proceedings, said a large number of the vendors attended with the aim of helping to find “workable solutions” to the rental hike problem.

In opening remarks, he gave the assurance that the M&CC appreciates what the sellers do, despite the shortcomings of the municipality.

“It’s about us talking to each other, mindful of each other’s position,” King said.

Before allowing the stallholders to voice their concerns, King permitted Mrs. Simone McKend to speak on behalf of the Markets Administration.

She said, retroactive to May 1, the Markets Department imposed an overall raise of 25.9 per cent of rental at Bourda Market, which should result in $13,284,745 more revenue.

McKend reported that 152 vendors paid the higher charge and, between last Thursday and Friday, an additional 99 complied.

Of the vendors who spoke, Wazir Azeez said, about four or five years ago, Brisport met them and said his department had secured a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to do renovations at the market and they could build double-decker stalls.

But the promises have not been fulfilled up to now and it is rather surprising, in fact bothering, that, although it failed to deliver the services, the Council is now, at a time of severe economic crisis, asking for more rent, Azeez said.

“This is totally unfair,” he declared, noting that while they have seen “red clothes guards”, there have been more breakages.

ABSENCE
Ramdar Singh lamented the absence of parking facility and having to pay $40 for a bucket of water.

Richard Taylor said: “We do not mind an increase but we saw no development ever since we paid the last rent increase. We’re asking to see more developments. Bourda Market is generating enough revenue to maintain itself. That is our daily livelihood, so it needs to be maintained. We don’t know when last we saw a councillor passing through the Market. If the rent rises, it means I’ll have to raise my prices and that will turn away my customers.”

Shelly Smith said: “I want to know what the proposals for the fish pond are. In addition, the attitude of the revenue officers is unbecoming. The Council needs to come and visit them unexpectedly. They also need to be trained how to speak to people.”

Responding to some of the concerns raised, Williams said the rise in charges was supposed to be effective since January but he pointed out that, in the budget for this year, it was noted that it was subject to improvements around the market.

He informed the gathering that the Council has started those works but, for some inexplicable reason, they were halted.

“We have to take most of the blame, as a Council, for not ensuring that action was taken more efficiently,” Williams said.

He announced, however, that the M&CC plans to resume works, after first procuring casement windows by June 3.

In addition, he said by today, six rolls of galvanized sheets would be secured.

According to him, during the period of June 1 to 19, a number of standpipes will be installed, among other things.

With regards to security, Williams exhorted all those present to look out for their neighbours and assist the M&CC to find constables who they know “would not walk around with black bags.”

The Deputy Mayor revealed that security cameras will have to be installed in and around the market. He also encouraged the stakeholders to form a proper organising committee, through which the municipality would have been apprised of the these issues had it been in existence.

He advised them to choose members of the committee with whom the Council can meet today to look at adjusting the budget according to the stallholders’ likeness.

DIVERTED
About the IDB financing, Williams said the money was diverted to another municipality, although his Council fought for it.

Brisport claimed there was a misunderstanding about the actual raise recently implemented, causing many to think it is higher.

He said the Markets Department acknowledges that undertakings were given vendors years ago but explained they did not materialise due to lack of funding.

Brisport said a formula for the new implementation was developed, taking into consideration the total cost of operations, including maintenance of the area occupied by the stallholders.

He said all stalls will be charged one rate instead of different rates, not exceeding 35 per cent in the first year.

Attorney-at-law Mr. Gregory Gaskin, who was retained by a group of stallholders, asked Williams to consider holding off the additional charges until the M&CC completes all it plans to do by June 19.

The lawyer said he was so requesting, in view of the fact that a proper organising committee will be formed to meet with the Council.

Williams said the request will be considered, noting that the vendors are presently operating with very poor sanitation, inadequate security, leaky roof and guttering, vagrants living around and obnoxious odours that turn away customers.