MINISTER within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker gave an update yesterday, on the market tarmacs that were recently acquired, throughout the country, by the National Democratic Councils (NDCs).

He said those at Buxton and Foulis, East Coast Demerara; Klien Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara and  Diamond, East Bank Demerara, were handed over with the expectation that the NDCs would have set up market committees to manage them.
According to him, in all those instances, the committees have been established and would each have their own bank account with signatories.
He explained that the challenge being faced by the NDCs is getting the vendors off the roadsides and relocated to the tarmacs.
Whittaker lamented that some who have been accustomed to vending at roadsides are refusing to move, as they fear that someone else will take their spot on the road and their sales would be cut if they relocate.
However, he advised that, as long as the vendors move collectively, as a body, to the tarmacs, buyers will become aware of their new locations and go there.
The Minister noted that the vendors have not been moving to the tarmacs in large numbers and there is still the issue of a lot of them on roadsides, some of whom are refusing to occupy spaces on the tarmacs.
Whittaker noted that there are tarmacs which are being used for the marketing purpose just one time weekly and, in those cases, the ministry is encouraging the NDCs to find additional uses for the tarmacs, on days when the markets are not being utilised.
He suggested allowing youths in the community to occupy the tarmacs for sporting events, like engaging in friendly cricket and football games, permitting religious activities, including crusades among other gatherings and just take a small fee which will be used for maintenance.