MAYOR Hamilton Green, accompanied by a team, visited Stabroek and Bourda Markets, yesterday.

The visit took place just days after thieves broke into five stalls at Bourda Market but, when asked if the stallholders who recently suffered losses would be compensated in any way due to the fact that they are paying a rent, Green responded: “Who will give it back to them? That’s a non-question. That’s an absurd question.”
At Stabroek Market, a huge crowd pestered him with their concerns that included inadequate lighting and security, poor parking facilities and repairs that ought to be carried out.
One stallholder complained that hire cars and minibuses are blocking up the Water Street area to such an extent that he and others have to park their vehicles as far away as Camp Street to get to the market.
Another complainant lamented problems that result from the market’s drainage and roof that leaks every time rain drizzles.
Other complaints included inadequate toilet and garbage facilities and cockroaches.
Following these and many others, the Mayor offered that some could be dealt with immediately.
At Bourda Market, he told the media that, since the burglary last week, efforts have been made to improve illumination.

NATIONAL PROBLEM
“But there is a limit to what the Constabulary can do in terms of manpower and equipment. The question of crime goes beyond stallholders. It’s a national problem and, unless there is a well organised approach to it, we won’t get anywhere with it…this issue has to be addressed by all stakeholders,” Green said.
Last week, Bourda Market stallholders alleged that injustice is rife in there, as they are continuously suffering at the hands of thieves but, at the same time, are unable to voice their concerns against authorities for fear of victimisation.
Several stalls in Section D of the market, where rice is the main produce sold, were broken into and, at that time, not one City Hall official could be contacted for comment.
Those with whom contact was made were unwilling to speak on the incident.
In the same market yesterday, there was hardly anyone willing to say what transpired and the few who spoke did so on condition of anonymity.
The losses were not significant and so the stalls opened for business as usual.
The market has been burglarised on numerous occasions and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has, several times, promised to beef up security there.
No one knew how the thieves managed to gain entry. Some speculated they could have hidden inside the market until everyone else had left while others expressed the view that entry was gained because of weakness in the wooden gates.

QUESTIONABLE THINGS
“In fact there are so many questionable things about the market,” one stall owner remarked.
Stallholders said it has now become a “normal” thing in the market and, whenever thieves strike, they would just replace their goods and continue with their business.
“We just have to move on. We can’t even look back because there is no way you can get your stuff back (from the M&CC). I’m here for more than two decades and whenever losses occur, you don’t get your stuff back. So I don’t pay too much heed to it,” one vendor said.
“They need to beef up security, especially in the night. This is now a normal thing. There is nothing you can do about it. You just have to move on. I just give a statement because of formality and move on because nothing can be done,” another stated.
One more pointed out that, aside from the regular break-ins, no business could be conducted in their section once rain falls. Among other issues are very poor sanitation, leaky roof and guttering, vagrants living around and, obnoxious odour that turns away customers.