A KIND of chaos erupted in the heart of the city on Thursday as Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, who also has the Public Works and Communication portfolio, and Minister of Local Government, Mr. Kellawan Lall, in company with senior officials of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), went into the streets to inform vendors of their impending removal.
The exercise, conducted one day after the explosion in Stabroek Market Square which left dozens along Water, America, Hinck and Regent streets, outraged and visibly shaken, saw some vendors, angrily, demanding an explanation from the group, as they proceeded to identify areas from which makeshift stalls were to be removed.
Addressing the irate crowd of street sellers gathered around Stabroek Market, Benn emphasized that the decision to dismantle the stalls was taken in the interest of public safety.
He told them: “Minister(Clement)Rohee said the way the vending activities are carried on, in an unlawful, non-regulated way, allows for the cover for a lot of illegal activities which occur on a daily basis, including robberies, sale of weapons and drugs and, in many instances, persons are killed, all of which are unacceptable occurrences.”
Benn said the primary focus was not on the removal of the vendors but the elimination of criminal activities in the identified areas, to ensure they are secure for public use and easy traffic flow.
He pointed out that attempts were made in the past to secure many of the areas, through the installation of street lights which have helped somewhat, but, then, persons decided to vend all night and created additional problems.
Alluding to what was done previously, Benn said: “This exercise is intended to bring order for the citizens and the public. You should be aware that a number of these exercises were carried out before and we tried to work with the City Council to get them done.”
He said policing the areas has always been a priority to stem criminal activities and maintain order but the environment in which this is done has to be one in which the Police and everyone else could work.

CERTAIN FRAMEWORK
“They have to be able to do this in a certain framework and environment,” Benn maintained.
Amid protests from the encircling throng of concerned vendors, about their rights as citizens, he reaffirmed that there is no law that allows for persons to conduct business in the streets but rather the laws permit proper vending and commercial activities to take place in designated areas.
“It is not a question of new laws but enforcement of the ones that exist and working along with people to find proper places for them to sell,” Benn explained, adding: “Certainly, the way they are selling now is completely against the law and imperils the public and commuters.”
About the provision of alternative arrangements for the affected vendors, he said: “We are aware that some of the people occupying these areas have other places like the markets in which to operate.”
Benn said his ministry has always been willing to meet with vendors in the past and will continue to encourage dialogue until the situation is resolved.
“The Ministry of Local Government and the City Council are prepared to sit and work with you to identify a place to which you may move, rather than encumbering the pavements and we will meet with groups who want to engage in rational discussions,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the demolition of the stalls began and Benn said it will be ongoing until all of the designated areas have been cleared.
“This will continue as long as it takes. On the ground and in the courts, we will have the problem fixed. It cannot continue,” he declared.
Benn reiterated that the clearing is not intended to infringe on any person’s right but the public interest and good is a larger issue.
Earlier in the day, scores of those vending demonstrated with placards in front of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Human Services and Social Security as well as City Hall, to complain about the action taken against itinerant vendors, after the deadly explosion that killed an unidentified man and injured 19 others.