SINCE 2009 a constant tussle seemed to be raging between the Parika Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and vendors operating on the shoulders of the Parika Public Road and from all accounts that ‘inferno is still raging’ as vendors recently related.
Vendors operating on the road shoulders are irate that the Parika NDC over the years has been trying to remove them from the location with claims that they are disrupting traffic and creating chaos on the location. Vendors noted that they were also told that they are preventing free access to the Parika Health Centre and several businesses.
Speaking to Patricia Baird, Parika Market Committee Chairman, this newspaper was informed that their committee recently filed an injunction to remain on the location and ply their trade, even as the NDC continues to demolish their stalls in the wee hours of the night.
Several vendors related that on Thursday last sometime in the morning hours persons directed by the Parika NDC broke down several structure and dumped the materials in a nearby village. Some said that with financial assistance from Kaieteur News, Freddie Kissoon and other officials they managed to transport the materials and rebuild their stalls to continue their livelihood.
Some villagers and business persons in Parika are of the view that the NDC is not functioning as it should since drainage and irrigation still continues to be an issue. Investigations revealed that for four days in last week the Parika Health Centre had to be closed since the compound was almost three feet in water as a result of the rains. A janitorial cleaner at the building related that on attempting to clean the building she has obtained an infection on both hands as a result of the flood waters.
Residents at the Parika Façade Retreat Road lamented that irrigation drains are not being dug, thus promoting excessive flooding when the rain falls. Angry resident exclaimed that they are appalled at the conditions they are forced to live in even as they are made to pay rates and taxes to the NDC.
A prominent businessman in the area periodically would try to level the road with an excavator, but this he claimed has become too expensive.
Officials from the Parika NDC commenting on the issues noted that these vendors were all afforded stalls in the Parika Market with which to sell their products. It was related that some years ago the vendors who seemingly were under the control of a ‘specific group’ relocated to the road shoulders with the excuse that they were only obtaining minimal sales whilst in the market.
Officials said every attempt to get the vendors to move back to the original area allotted to them have been met with fiery protests, and clashes.
To this vendors retorted that the area given to them in the market is situated to the very rear of the structure, behind the fish mongers. They said because of the stench from all the fish just a minimal influx of customers will traverse there to buy their fruits and vegetables. Vendors claimed that it is only those who are at the very front of the market will net major sales from the public.
The vendors said that in the Parika Market there are beer gardens, clothing and cosmetic stalls. This situation they claimed leaves no space for them to be housed in the same structure, thus resulting in them being placed behind the fishermen.
They complained that in as much as they don’t sell in the market they are required to pay $600 or $700 per stall to the NDC, since that body furnished them with the structures in which they are supposed to sell.
The vendors pointed out that they depend on the sales from persons traversing the Parika mini-bus park, stelling and roadside, and as such were crippled when they were placed at a location far behind the market where almost no one visited.
Vendors are lamenting they are unable to send their children to school, pay their bills and meet the daily necessities since they are being hounded by persons employed by the NDC Chairman. Some were literally tearful and vowed to take the matter in their hands if the relevant authorities do not intervene.
All day attempts were made to contact the NDC Chairman, Mr. Jaideo Sookhoo on cell number 662 7175 which was provided to us, but received a continuous voicemail message. A female NDC staffer who supplied the number said it’s a norm to not get the Chairman on his cell phone since frequent ‘blackouts’ in the area would prevent him from charging his cellular phone.
Requests for his office number were met with a response that he does not have one and would only visit the office on Wednesdays. The female NDC staffer supplied her number as 260 4569.
