As demolition continues…
MINISTER of Transport and Hydraulics, Mr. Robeson Benn, who also has the Public Works portfolio, assured yesterday, even while the demolition exercise continued at Stabroek Market Square to improve and secure the area, that provisions are being made to relocate some of the vendors. He gave the assurance as he monitored the clearing exercise in the vicinity and said the decision to accommodate the sellers was taken to ensure that those affected will be able to continue plying their trade and earn, to support their families.
“We will be working over the next two to three days, to relocate and establish some temporary order with the rest of the vendors,” Benn said.
Alluding to some of the temporary provisions being made, those who vend clothing and previously occupied the area on the eastern side of the Bus Park will now be alongside the western perimeter near Banks DIH Demico House, where several food vendors would also be selling in the evening.
He pointed out that several others have already resumed operations, in a controlled space, along the northern side of the Route 45 Bus Park.
“They have to keep behind a line until we have tidied up the area and placed them closer to the pavement, pending a better solution,” Benn explained.
He added that those persons, who occupied the western side of the bus park before, in front of the market, will be allowed to continue doing so under conditions.
Benn emphasised that there has to be monitoring and maintenance of the set standards while the massive effort is underway to clean up the area and to, significantly, improve the surrounding environment.
He remarked on the cooperation received from the vendors since the onset of the re-arrangement,
“People are cooperating because they want to continue with their livelihood. I think that many of them, who were fearful and concerned over the deterioration around them, as a result of unlawful activities, are now seeing why this has to be done,” Benn posited.

CONCERNED
However, he remains concerned over the remaining operations area and the pending court cases in regard to their removal.
“Most of the more permanent structures have been removed from the area but there are four establishments which are proving problematic and we are working to have the injunctions lifted,” Benn said.
Apart from the removal of structures and situating a permanent mobile Police outpost, operations are ongoing to resurface the park and some of the roadways in the area, he informed.
“We have also removed those persons who have attached their businesses to the traffic light and we can now work on repositioning it to have better control, in addition to which efforts will be made to organise the bus parks after these things are done,” Benn said.
Meantime, several of the affected vendors have expressed great appreciation for the provisions which have been made to allow their vending to continue.
Ms. Arlene Yansen, who has been operating a beverage stall on the periphery of the market for eight years and who was ordered to desist from carrying on the business there, has said she is now extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue earning a living.
“This is a good thing for us and we know that we need to obey the rules. We will be here from 06:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs and I have no problem with that,” she offered.
Another vendor, Ms. Jennifer Anderson, who has been selling there since 1987, said she is not against the action taken to secure the area.
“I know why they are doing this but we are glad that we are still allowed to sell here for now and I am grateful,” she said.
Over the past several days, scores of itinerant and permanent vendors have been affected by the Ministry of  Public Works’ operations in collaboration with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), that began in the wake of the Wednesday, January 5 explosion that kill an unidentified man and left 19 others injured.