CONSTRUCTED at tremendous costs, with taxpayers’ money the public is adamant that market tarmacs must be occupied.
Within the last week, this newspaper interviewed several persons, on their views regarding the non-occupancy by vendors of the market tarmacs.

These persons, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, are of the view that the government has wasted their money to build tarmacs for illegal roadside vendors who occupy the roads and streets in almost all areas of Guyana.
Reports are that authorities are adamant that illegal vending must become a thing of the past, as the policy declaration was made by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker.
Many Guyanese citizens are of the view that action needs to be taken, because these vendors are the cause of much confusion on the road. Motorists and cyclists lament their fate on the roads when these vendors decide to start their trade at the beginning of the day.
Roadside vending is indeed an unlawful practice and in that light, persons are supportive of the measures that the government is putting in place to have the errant vendors removed as it constitutes a very pressing matter of commerce in Guyana and, the measures should be implemented at a faster rate.
Persons interviewed added that when it comes to any institution or arm of the government, the people should always follow whatever procedures and rules have been implemented to uphold law and order.
Vendors are violating the rights of store owners and their businesses when they vend illegally on the pavement, especially in the Georgetown area. This is the responsibility of the relevant authorities, especially since they are unlawfully carrying on their trade in spite of being warned multiple times.
A legal practitioner, who spoke to this publication, on condition of anonymity, highlighted that there is a reason these persons are labelled as “illegal roadside vendors” and under the legislation which governs sellers in Guyana, there is no clause to his knowledge that governs sellers vending on roadways that it is “ok for them to do so.”
He  is urging that the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to work faster in removing these people as they are more of a nuisance on the roadside.
The Ministry, over the past five years, have constructed tarmacs at various areas such as Diamond/Grove, Best Klien /Pouderoyen, Toevlugt/Patentia, Charity, Plaisance, Buxton, Lusignan and Haslington, Met-en-Zorg for vendors to sell in an organised manner.
An estimated cost of all of these tarmacs put together have totalled to almost $230M with each tarmac costing just over $20M.