THE official reopening of the once thriving Stelling View Market, in the vicinity of Stabroek Market in Georgetown, has been delayed and is now expected to take place in October. Clerk of Markets, Mr. Schulder Griffith, in a telephone interview Thursday, told the Guyana Chronicle that a number of setbacks were encountered and the August target date, given earlier this year, could not be met.
Alluding to some of the challenges that caused the delay, Project Manager, Mr. Errol Brisport said inclement weather contributed, as a lot of the construction involves working with cement.
He said another problem is that stallholders, who were expected to build structures inside the place, failed to raise the necessary funds and the stalls are now scheduled for completion is mid-September.
Brisport said one more difficulty faced was because vendors and others have been dumping garbage next to the site and the Markets Division had to make arrangements for the removal.
According to him, erection of the front fence has begun and should be finished by this weekend, following which work on the back one will start.
He said Stelling View, to be open from 07:00 h to 19:00 h, will have a number of stallholders in front of Stabroek Market and the cost will have to be calculated for running both.
Brisport said, although many stallholders in front of Stabroek Market are not desirous of relocating, they will have to move some time or the other because the area is too congested, especially with the various bus parks.
He said he sent a proposal to the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), to have the Mahdia, Lethem and Linden bus parks shifted to in front of East Ruimveldt Market.
Brisport said, if approved, it will boost East Ruimveldt Market and, at the same time, ease congestion at Stabroek Market and provide another link to East Bank Demerara Public Road.
He said he proposed that minibuses in front of Stabroek Market, with the exception of the Route 45 minibus park, will have to divert to the spots formerly used by the Mahdia, Lethem and Linden parks.
Landmark
Brisport said Stabroek Market serves as a landmark and tourist site and, with no more congestion, commuters will be able to access parking easily and criminal acts would be curbed.
Replicating the transformation that has become the New Vendors Mall on Water Street, to where 180 sellers taken off the streets and other thoroughfares were placed, the reopened Stelling View Market will accommodate 53 more.
Griffith said Stelling View stalls will be modern and constructed with a different design and the arrangement is for the actual construction to be a public/private undertaking.
He said Ministry of Transport and Hydraulics is to do the floor and the M&CC will take care of lighting, the gates and fence, among other things, he said.
Stallholders will, however, erect their respective stalls at their own expense but according to specifications, under the guidance of the Markets’ Division, Griffith pointed out.
He said toilet facilities will be provided and prospective stallholders have already agreed to maintain them.
Standpipes have been installed and more amenities are yet to be put in place, Griffith stated.
Some of the businesses that will be located there include boutiques, barber shops, salons and haberdasheries. The stalls will be built around the fenced area and a huge benab will house fruits, vegetables and ground provision sellers.
Griffith recalled that Stelling View was a thriving market years ago but, for some reasons, those who occupied it were allowed to return on Water Street and others followed to maintain competition but the restoration project started last January.