ACTING Georgetown Town Clerk, Ms. Yonnette Pluck said it is the City Council’s opinion that the roof of Kitty Market can be repaired, even though it would require extensive works.

Speaking to this newspaper by telephone yesterday, she said stallholders are, currently, occupying the lower flat while the Council is trying to see what remedial works can be undertaken.

Pluck, Clerk of Markets Schulder Griffith, Mayor Hamilton Green, and Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, were among officials who visited the place, two months ago, to discuss its future with stallholders.

Following that meeting, Mr. Griffith said a decision was taken to write President Bharrat Jagdeo, seeking assistance for the repair and a group of stallholders signed that letter.

Pluck said, in it, the Head of State was requested to provide funds to rehabilitate the market but, to date, no response was received and a follow-up correspondence will be sent to Office of the President.

However, she said, before attempting to touch the edifice, the Council has to take into consideration that Kitty Market is a heritage site, causing some difficulty to demolish it because of its National Trust listing.

Chief Labour, Occupational Safety and Health Officer, Mr. Yoganand Persaud, who led a Ministry of Labour team to inspect the premises earlier this week, observed that the City Council has a safety department and stallholders are paying a rent to the municipality.
He said the Labour Ministry has also paid visits to the other municipal markets and indicated where works need to be done.
But the Guyana Chronicle understands that efforts, by the Ministry, to meet with City Hall officials for discussions on the state of the structures have all proved futile.
In a previous interview, Griffith said it was proposed to remove the stalls to another location, temporarily, then take the roofing off and convert the two-storey into a one flat to, significantly, reduce the leaking and flooding.
He acknowledged that Kitty Market is a community property and said he would be glad to see it returned to its former glory.
In the meantime, though, something should be done until the Council can afford to its complete rehabilitation, Griffith maintained.
He said the invitation, to private developers for them to invest in the venture, is still open and interested persons can so indicate to the Council.