THE Regional Administration in Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands) made another attempt on Sunday to remove  small scale vendors from along Parika Stelling Road, East Bank Essequibo, in the vicinity of the post office and health centre. The exercise, which involved the forced removal of 15 of those targeted, by a skeleton staff of security officials from the Regional Market Committee, began just after 07:00 hrs yesterday, when the ranks, using a tractor, seized goods and ordered the sellers from their vending place.

Regional Vice-Chairman, Mr. Manpersaud told the Guyana Chronicle that efforts at removing the group proved futile over the last three years and he threatened: “If they resist, this time, they will be charged but we are hoping that will not happen.”

He said the vendors’ presence on the roadside creates a problem of congestion and the ideal conditions for vehicular accidents but, despite notices given them in the past, they are reluctant to take up the alternative accommodation offered them aback of Parika Market.

Manpersaud said the Administration has even sought the assistance of the Police to aid the eviction but the lawmen did not cooperate.

“The problem is that everybody wants to be out on the roadside  but everybody cannot be there.  They were given stalls in the market but they do not want to occupy them,” he said of the recalcitrants.

Manpersaud said the Administration believes that, once they take up the positions at the back of the market, shoppers will, eventually, follow them there to make their purchases.

But the vendors are adamant that this will not happen.
“Who will follow us to that desolate part of Parika to buy hundred dollars eschallot and pick up a few items of confectionery, such as sweet biscuits and bread  to snack on when travelling on the boat?” one of the affected vendors asked, adding that the location is desolate; way out of reach and customers; has no toilet facilities nor running water and no security against criminal elements who have been known to jump the fence separating the area from the riverside and attack persons.

The vendor said vendors have given the place a trial and constructed concrete stalls which they were forced to abandon and leave in the failed effort.

“It is rough trying to do any business there. It is very dangerous and, every minute, somebody is breaking into a stall. You, yourself, would be frightened to go there,” one man contended.

However, Manpersaud said that the vendors were painting a picture which does not represent the facts.

According to him, there is, indeed, a sanitary block  and some completed stalls are shut while others are half way built and owned by vendors now selling at the roadside.

He said there is not enough space to accommodate the affected vendors at Hydronie Market, in the village before Parika but it has become clear that any offer made to them would be rejected in preference for the stelling roadside.

But Manpersaud held out hope for an amicable solution, although a meeting, last Friday, involving  himself, Regional Chairman, Mr. Julius Faeber, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman, Mr. Samlall  and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Parliamentarian, Mr.  Mervyn Williams failed to settle the issue.