Completed market tarmacs not being used as intended
LOCAL authorities are still reporting that market tarmacs, completed since January 2010 remain unused, because additional facilities must yet be installed.
The latest report on the issue was from Chairman of Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Mr. Julius Faerber, who spoke with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday by telephone.
He said sanitary facilities, water and lighting, are among some of the additional things that must be added before the vending places could become operational.
Faerber could not give a timeline as to when works will commence but assured that they will be added shortly.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Nigel Dharamlall said it is really that the vendors are reluctant to relocate.
He said they are still working with the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and that workers are expected to be mobilised soon with regard to the Mahaica Market.
Several market tarmacs, which were constructed to ease congestion along the roadways and end roadside vending, are now being used in the various communities for other purposes.
Former Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall signed contracts, on October 12, 2009, for building 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 jobs would be finished in three months.
Faerber was in favour of the tarmacs, as he said roadside vending posed a threat, not only to road users but to stallholders themselves.
He also told this newspaper that it is illegal to sell alongside the roadway. But, to date, stalls are still lining Vreed-en-Hoop thoroughfare, also on West Coast Demerara.