MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, yesterday reiterated that no form of permanent vending will be allowed in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market in Georgetown, and said measures will be put in place to ensure  that this is upheld.
He stressed this when he addressed scores of agitated vendors while the demolition of illegal structures continued in the Stabroek Market square.
He said, “We are not going back to what we had before, and we cannot have a marketplace together with the selling of malts and liquor and all of that. We are not going back to that.”
The removal of the shacks and other structures followed the explosion of a fragmentation grenade in the Square Wednesday, when the man carrying the device died and 19 others were injured. Even before the explosion, the police and government officials had pointed to the need to restore law and order to the usually busy square, which is also a central commuting point for thousands daily.
Vendors affected on Friday met President Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall, Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee and Minister Benn and others at the Office of the President.
At that meeting, President Jagdeo stated that part of the enforcement plan to stem criminality and illegal activities in the area will include the removal of fixed structures, which are known for harbouring unsavoury elements.
“When I met with the vendors, I said to them that we are not retreating from this; we have to ensure that we clean up the area, bring back law and order, and we have to stop  the illegal activities there. But I also said to them that I want to ensure that they continue to earn a living,” President Jagdeo said after the meeting.
In an invited comment to the Sunday Chronicle yesterday, President Jagdeo emphasised that the government remains uncompromising with regard to the 15-20 itinerant vendors who sell alcoholic beverages around the Stabroek Market.
Minister Lall, who was also present during yesterday’s exercise, said: “We are continuing the exercise that we started to bring some order to the city and to clear up the congestion.”
“We met the vendors, and made a list of all of those who were in the area under previous permission. We are going to place them and re-site them, and they are going to come back here under strict conditions,” he explained.
He said that almost all of the 100 vendors the officials have met are satisfied with the arrangements being put in place, and that after the situation on the periphery of the Stabroek Market is dealt with, attention will be paid to conditions in the market itself, since most of its entrances are blocked.
In addition, Lall said most of the persons selling in these places have been given notices, and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will be addressing that situation tomorrow.
Several vendors who have been operating near the market for decades, and who all have permanent stalls, appealed to the authorities to allow them to remain, and to continue  plying their trade.
Mrs. Seeta Banu, who said she has been operating a beverage stall there for more than 25 years, told this newspaper that representatives from the M&CC, along  with Minister Benn, visited her establishment Friday evening and partially demolished her stall.
She said she arrived at her stall while the demolition was underway, and informed Minister Benn that she has a valid operating licence and other relevant documents which would justify her occupation of the particular area.
She said, “They did not listen to me or look at my documents, even though I pleaded with them. But after a few minutes, they left.”
Banu said she was forced to spend the entire night at the partially demolished stall, in an effort to secure her supplies.
She said she, however, supports the move to rid the area of unsavoury characters and secure the ‘Square’, but stressed that some provision should be made for those persons who are legally entitled to occupy spaces around the market.
“I agree with the idea, and it will make the area safer, since there are a lot of thieves around and no one can walk in peace around here,” she said.
In response to the call by some vendors for some allowance to be made for permanent vendors, Benn said, “They have been told that they would be removed, and we are meeting with them to discuss what other opportunities we can offer them.”
In this regard, Minister Lall appealed to all the affected vendors to work in collaboration with the different government ministries to resolve the situation.
He said, “Vendors will be allowed to operate from 06:00h in the morning to 18:00h in the evening…There is an operation underway to deal with this chaotic situation, and we are appealing to people to have some understanding, and to cooperate with us, as it is all in the interest of the public.”
The police mobile outpost previously stationed near Guyana Stores Limited on Water Street has also been relocated to ‘Stabroek Square’ to aid in ensuring public safety.
Lall explained that this move is intended to further promote security in the area.
“At the moment,” he said, “we are dealing with this immediate area, and keeping it safe for commuters and for persons coming to shop, as well as the vendors.”
“I have been selling in this area for over 25 years,” said Jennifer Anderson. “This is a very good thing the government is doing.”
She said that although she has been affected by the decision to remove vendors from the area, she is willing to cooperate with the authorities until a solution can be found.