FOLLOWING the agreement between the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in March, contracts for the rehabilitation of six municipal markets have been signed.

The project is being monitored by the UNDP but funded by the India/ Brazil/South Africa (IBSA) Trust Fund.

The Government of Guyana has also contributed $475,000 towards the initiative. The proposal for the solid waste management project was created from a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both Guyana and Suriname.

Among the attendees at the press conference held Friday at the Ministry of Local Government at Kingston, Georgetown was Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker; Permanent Secretary of the LGRD Ministry, Collin Croal; Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Ms. Chisa Mikami; and the contractors who were awarded the projects.

Croal said: “As the Ministry of Local Government is responsible for the implementation of the project, an in-house management team will be selected to ensure the success of the project.”

The markets were identified for rehabilitation on the basis of their current solid waste management practices and their need for infrastructural rehabilitation.

Previous visits by the Minister and his team to the markets saw the vendors detailing the inadequacies they encounter at the markets, and subsequently the markets were selected for rehabilitation.

“Six markets are earmarked for rehabilitation. These are the Anna Regina market, the Rosignol market, the Rose Hall market, Linden market, the Diamond market tarmac and the Ireng/Sawariwau market,” the Permanent Secretary disclosed.

The repairs to the Anna Regina market include works to be done to the roof, plumbing and electrical works, and the construction of a fence at a contract sum of $3,819,270.

The scope of works expected at the Rosignol market includes extension of the existing market shed and painting of the entire market at a contract sum of $14,614,752.

At the Rose Hall market, the construction of a fish shed, water reservoir, provision for surveillance cameras; and minor repairs to sanitary facilities were contracted for at a sum of $7,813,827.

Repairs to the constabulary office, revenue clerk’s office, stall area, store room, the construction of a new fence, and rehabilitation of the existing washroom was contracted for the Linden market at a sum of $11,039,031.
The soon-to-be utilised Diamond market tarmac will see construction of a chain link fence with four gates and a two-foot hollow concrete block (HCB) wall at a contracted sum of $3,822,294.

“There is particular need for vendors to move to the Diamond market tarmac, as use of the four-lane road will be hindered by the current occupation of the reserve by the illegal vending,” the Minister said.

Repairs to the Ireng/Sawariwau NDC market will include repairs to external and internal walls, electrical installations, painting of the market, and the supply and casting of the floor at a contract of $7,504,725. The contracts awarded were summed at $48,613,899.

Minister Whittaker disclosed that the UNDP examined the project and deemed it to be viable and necessary. It is an example of what can be achieved through collaboration, he said.

He implored contractors to ensure timely completion and quality production of the works contracted.
He further divulged that the LGRD Ministry was aiming to strengthen municipal ties for proper solid waste management. This was highlighted by the purchase of two compactor trucks and procurement of new garbage bins.

In rehabilitating the markets, the project seeks to not only provide safe and secure infrastructure for the vendors, but also to reduce the amount of garbage entering the public space, as these markets will have solid waste management facilities.

(By Raveena Mangal)