THREE weeks after a section of the roof over the Stabroek Market wharf collapsed and was propped by a stall, the overhanging structure remains a virtual death trap, and poses a serious threat to life and limb.

In light of this, stallholders and owners of motor vessels operating their businesses beneath, fearful for their lives and those of their clients/customers, are calling on the authorities for any

intervention that would bring an end to the continued state of anxiety and stress. They want the dangerously hanging structure to be removed and a temporary covering to be set up which would allow them to continue to ply their trades, with no disruption of income.
The vendors claim that the day after the roof collapsed, they were summoned to a meeting in the office of the clerk of markets on the same wharf, and advised that Council would be closing off a section of the wharf so as to facilitate repairs.
They said they were verbally offered temporary placement in the interlocking lanes on the wharf until such time as repairs are completed. But three weeks later, nothing has been done and from all appearances, the structure is gradually lowering, sliding closer to the ground, and can break away completely at any moment. That could mean death for many.
The vendors, many of whom have been operating their businesses for well into 40 years, having inherited them from their parents and fore-parents have legitimate claims to these spots for which they pay rates, and which provide them with their only source of income. For them to be removed and not provided with alternative accommodation, would be to “snap” their very lifeline.
The affected stallholders on the wharf are small- scale operators and sell mainly fruits, vegetables, dried fish, coconuts, cassava bread and other cassava based products.
This newspaper visited the office of the clerk of markets and sought a comment, but was advised that they are unable to speak on the issue. All communication must come from the office of the town clerk.
When contacted, Town Clerk (Ag), Ms. Carol Sooba said that Council is trying to relocate the affected stallholders, many of whom, she agreed, have been operating at those spots for years. In the meantime, she said, Council is exploring the possibility of relocating some of them to vacant spots along the pavement and others still, to be allocated stalls that are locked up and not in use around the municipal market.
Asked how soon would repairs to the roof be effected, the town clerk could not say. However, at the break of the fiscal year 2014, at the town clerk’s first statutory meeting, it was reported that repairs to municipal markets constituted a major part of the programme of works for the year. Pathetically, there is no evidence of repairs having been done to any of the municipal markets.
A few weeks ago, the ministry of Local Government contracted a team of workers to replace non-functioning lamps outside the municipal markets to enhance security arrangements, as well as for the comfort of vendors selling after dark.

(By Shirley Thomas)