– situation presents serious health challenges, says IMC Chairman
CHAIRMAN of the Interim Management Committee of the township of Corriverton, in East Berbice, Bhawase Harripaul, has expressed concern at illegal vending by persons along the market road. He said vending has now become an eyesore, since vendors continue to sell fruits, vegetables and food in unhealthy surroundings.
In a recent interview with this newspaper, Harripaul said the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) lately has been undertaking works in the nearby sideline trench; but vendors, nevertheless, continue to sell amidst the slush and mud, making their produce contaminated and unwholesome for consumption.
“GUYSUCO is cleaning the sideline next to the market road and has begun digging for almost five days now, and vendors have been continuously selling, despite the fact that there is a buildup of mud and waste coming from the sideline on the shoulders of the trench,” Harripaul said.
Harripaul stressed that this has now left the town at a disadvantage, since consumers who go to the area may come into contact with any of the air-borne disease, which could be detrimental to their health.
Reports coming from the Town Council in the area have stated that the Government Public Health Department in Corriverton has advised that all vendors selling food items, including fruits and vegetables, on the market road desist from this act. This is in light of the works that are being carried out by GUYSUCO on the sideline that runs parallel to the road.
Consumers are also advised not to encourage vendors with this unwholesome act, as it could seriously compromise their health.
A statement issued by Corriverton’s Senior Health Inspector, Roopnarine Sukhu, is urging vendors to desist from selling in the area, since the mud is highly contaminated and infectious diseases can be passed on to consumers.
Concerning the illegal vending that has been ongoing for years, the council said that the municipality had taken the vendors to court, but the matter has never been tried.
A reliable source from the council said the matter was withdrawn from the courts with intention of arriving at a settlement at the community level, but this has not been done.
“We were told that the matter was not tried… They were trying to resolve the matter, to bring them into the market,” the source said.
According to the council, works were initiated by the Ministry of Public Works, in collaboration with the town, to get the vendors to utilise the market, but this did not bear fruit.
“The Ministry (Public Works) came into Corriverton, and we are working in collaboration with them to remove (the vendors). After the operations were carried out by the Ministry to move them, they subsequently went back (on the road).” The source said.
The road is currently owned by GuySuCo but is being rented to the Council. The Sugar Corporation has no say in the issue.