ACTING Chairman of the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Mr. Ayube Mohammed has given worried vendors of Mon Repos Market, on the East Coast of Demerara, assurances about their situation. In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle, on Tuesday, after other media reports had said they were going to be relocated, he explained that a Market Committee meeting had been scheduled for Monday that was to include the sellers and NDC staff and deal with other administrative issues that the former may have had at the time.
He pointed out that, as one issue after another had arisen, he decided to inform the vending group that it is not those in the market complex who will be moved, but others occupying the tarmac.
The places where they will be put have been identified and are in close proximity to the present market, they were told.
Mohammed said, upon telling them this, they began to get very vociferous and the discussions were brought to a halt.
The Chairman questioned the behaviour of the vendors who occupy inside the market as they will not be hindered in any way and had no reason to behave as they did.
Mohammed maintained that it is for the benefit of the public that the public road will be extended to better accommodate vehicles and the heavy traffic and sellers ought not to worry as a new tarmac will be built to accommodate them continuing their business.

More discussions
He said more discussions will be scheduled to include officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development as well as the Ministry of Public Works.
Meanwhile, the NDC Superintendent of Works, Mr. Rocky Ramgopaul, said the administration will be faced with many issues. A major challenge was to get the sellers away from street corners and onto the tarmac; but now, to ask them to go to the proposed tarmac will be quite an issue.
He reiterated that it is not that the sellers will have nowhere to go, because the NDC would provide for them close to the market.
Mohammed and Ramgopaul admitted that, although this may not happen very soon, it is the responsibility of the NDC to inform the affected people what will be taking place.
Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker disclosed that the Mon Repos/La Reconnaissance NDC recently decided that the vendors would continue to sell on the Mon Repos and Lusignan tarmacs, having regard to the fact that some parts of both would be taken up by the road and considering safety.
The minister said Council officers had shown him the alternative sites to put the sellers.
He added that, during that NDC meeting, he was informed by a councillor from the Market Committee, that it was to meet with vendors on Tuesday, June 25 and he suggested that they discuss the matter.
Whittaker said, however, there was no discussion or decision for the immediate removal of vendors.
He said, “To the contrary, I did undertake to have representatives of the Local Government Ministry and Ministry of Public Works present to guide the meeting on issues relevant to their respective sectors if needed.”
Whittaker concluded that “wicked, malicious persons, with their own agenda, sought to and did paint a different picture.”
But the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is committed and does work with citizens to help them improve their livelihood and not to aid its decline, he offered.