LOCAL Government and Regional Development Minister Ganga Persaud has pointed out how several market tarmacs are being used successfully for other purposes,  while the authorities have, over time, been criticised for the non-use of such facilities constructed at a cost of millions of dollars. “We made a terrible mistake when we designated these things market tarmacs. We should have really called them community tarmacs,” he acknowledged at the ministry, in Fort Street, Kingston, recently.
After they are handed over to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), management committees are put in place to overlook their use, so that the tarmacs do no replace the community centres and playgrounds, Mr. Persaud said.
In the past, some officials have blamed the non-use of the tarmacs on stallholders’ unwillingness to relocate their businesses. Chairman of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Mr. Julius Faerber was one such official who said the stallholders fear losing business after relocation.
Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica), Mr. Donald Gajraj had told this newspaper, previously, that the tarmacs in his jurisdiction were never meant to be used every day.
He insisted that they are all occupied and vendors have portable stalls, so that, after vending, the structures are removed and the tarmacs serve other purposes.
The idea behind the construction of tarmacs was to ease congestion on the roadways and stop roadside vending.

SIGNED CONTRACTS
Former Local Government Minister, Mr. Kellawan Lall had signed contracts, on October 12, 2009, for the laying of tarmacs at Enmore, East Coast Demerara; Phoenix Park,Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara and De Willem, West Coast Demerara, to be completed in three months.
The one at Enmore was awarded to K.B. and B Contractors from De Hoop, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, for a 77 metres by 62 metres, costing  $29,130, 688.
Eagle Transportation and General Construction Limited won the  $7,984,735 for De Willem and Annirud Ramcharitar undertook the work at Phoenix Park for $29,983,250.
Last August, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) accepted bids in relation for one at Mahaica, where the old market is to be demolished and replaced by a tarmac, estimated to cost some $85M.
In advancing the need for tarmacs, Lall had said several markets were overflowing with vendors and that comfortable places must be made available for buying and selling.
He had also mentioned that the tarmacs were intended for community activities, as well, but were organised under the market rules for residents to be able to obtain quality foods.
Around that time, Faerber, too, had spoken in favour of the tarmacs when he said roadside vending posed a threat not only to road users but to sellers themselves.