– PS Dharamlall says issue has to do with ‘culture of market vending’
SEVERAL market tarmacs, which were constructed to ease congestion on the roadways and bring a halt to roadside vending, are now being used by the various communities for other purposes. Chairman for Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Mr. Julius Faerber, told the Chronicle yesterday afternoon that the tarmacs in his jurisdiction are still in need of other facilities such as washrooms, fencing and lighting.
According to him, unless these facilities are installed, vendors have complained that they will not occupy the tarmacs.
Faerber could not say when these works would be done but offered that they will be a part of next year’s budget, as no money is available to do them presently.
Also speaking with this newspaper yesterday was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall.
He offered no new information but repeated that the only tarmac fully in use is the one at Charity, on the Essequibo Coast. The tarmac situation is still something that the ministry is “grappling” with, he noted, adding that the issue has to do with the culture of market vending.
Dharamlall also reminded that it will take the vendors some amount of time to get used to the new business sites.
Former Local Government Minister Mr. Kellawan Lall signed contracts, on October 12, 2009, for construction of tarmacs at Enmore, East Coast Demerara; Best/Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara and De Willem, West Coast Demerara, with contractors who gave the undertaking that the job would be completed in three months.
The Enmore contract was awarded to K.B and B Contractors, from De Hoop, Mahaica, also on the East Coast Demerara. The 77 metres by 62 metres structure cost $29,130,688.
The one at De Willem went to Eagle Transportation and General Construction Limited for $7,984,735 and at Best/Pouderoyen to Annirud Ramcharitar, for $29,983,250.
Earlier this month, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) accepted bids in relation to the construction of another market tarmac at Mahaica. The old market will reportedly be demolished to facilitate the tarmac, which has an estimated engineer’s cost of in excess of $85M.
In underscoring the need for market tarmacs, Minister Lall had said that several markets were overflowing with vendors and thatcomfortable venues must be made available for buying and selling.
The minister had said, also, that the tarmacs were intended to be used for community activities but were organised under the market rules for residents to be able to obtain quality foods.
The Regional Chairman had likewise spoken in favour of the tarmacs when he said that roadside vending posed a threat, not only to road users, but to stallholders themselves.
Faerber also told the Chronicle that it is illegal to sell alongside the roadway. But, to date, stalls are still lining the Vreed-en-Hoop thoroughfare.