– entire wharf needs to be completely overhauled, councillors say

DEPUTY Mayor of Georgetown, Ms. Patricia Green finds it strange that to date a meeting of the Public Health Market and City Works has not been called to discuss the collapse of a section of the roof over the Stabroek Market Wharf and the relocation of vendors in the interest of their safety and other persons using the facility.

And Mr. Ranwell Jordan, former Mayor and current Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee is adamant that vendors continue to be exposed to danger, which threatens their life and

limbs, and not relocated. He reasoned that should persons be injured under the circumstances, the Council will have to take liability, because “it is aware of the state and position of that wharf and it is their (Council’s) responsibility to effect repairs.”

SITE VISIT
In this regard, the Deputy Mayor, along with Public Relations Officer Royston King, last Friday headed a delegation of Councillors on a tour of the troubled and controversial Stabroek Market wharf where they had a firsthand look at the situation, and the impending dangers to which lives are continuously exposed.

Members of the delegation included Mr. Ranwell Jordan, former Mayor and current Chairman of Markets and Public Health Committee and Councillors, Victor Sobers, Gladstone George and others.

IMMINENT DANGER
But on arriving at the facility, it was found that not only is the roof in a bad shape, but the floor as well is badly in need of repairs. The roof appears to be descending gradually and other parts (not previously affected) now seem to be in imminent danger of collapse as well.
All told, there are about 60 stalls on the wharf and the officials are in one accord that the entire wharf needs to be completely overhauled, especially since each time the stelling is hit by boats mooring alongside the wharf, it shifts the foundation and even the floor threatens to collapse.
However, about 20 vendors, towards the north western end of the wharf need to be relocated immediately. The officers spoke with stall holders who say they are fully aware of the risks and dangers associated with their continued vending under such precarious conditions, but are forced to do so, out of necessity. They lack any other means of earning their livelihood. In the meantime, they are anxiously awaiting informed advice on the way forward and are hoping things turn out in their favour.
Perturbed, the Deputy Mayor who notes that neither has the section of the wharf been closed, nor the vendors relocated since the collapse of the roof, questioned why was a meeting of Public Health Market and City Works not called urgently to deal with it. “Regardless of what report would have been put up by the Engineer’s Department, there must be a meeting of the Statutory body, which is the city Works Committee and the Public Health Markets Committee to bring a recommendation to full Council on the way forward for this,” she stressed.
Green was adamant that even if there is to be involvement from the Government (which Council will be grateful for anyway), it has to go through the Council. She said that regardless of what assistance might be forthcoming, it has to go through the statutory committee, thence to the full Council for decisions to be made. “We ought to have met to deal with this matter, and that has not happened. The Council has to make all decisions on the way forward,” she reiterated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ranwell Jordan, Chairman of Markets and Public Health Committee, asked for a comment, said: “I would say that is a pity that the Stabroek Market Wharf should be in that condition, because that is an area that we focused on nearly a year ago and monies were voted for emergency repairs, but unfortunately, nothing was done.”
He recalled the incident where a beam fell from the roof and injured someone, and figured that should have been a reminder as to the urgency of having the wharf repaired, still nothing was done.
Jordan said following the September 16 collapse, the Ministry of Works was called in to give an assessment, together with the Engineer’s Department. At the last statutory meeting, the Engineer’s Department reported that they had put up an estimate for repairs, and that the Ministry of Works had offered assistance. He quoted the engineer as saying that the estimate was submitted to the Town Clerk and therefore together with the Ministry of Works they were going to discuss the project in an effort to implement repairs.
Jordan said that in the meantime it was suggested that those persons occupying that area be removed, and added, “… because any emergency, you will have life and limb being affected by falling beams there.”
He said based on what was seen at the site on the wharf, it is evident that although Council took a decision that the wharf should be cleared, that had not been done. Jordan viewed the matter seriously and said that at the Statutory Meeting Monday, Council will need to find out what really is going on in terms of the administration carrying out its function. He noted that for some time now, the administration seems to be ‘doing their own thing’ which is not in the best interest of the Council nor the communities involved.
Asked whether there is money in place at this time to effect the emergency repairs, Mr. Jordan replied in the affirmative. “Yes, there would be money in place, because the engineer, at the last statutory meeting, indicated that they had put up what was considered necessary for some action to be taken.”
Given that the vendors are relocated, asked how soon would the repairs possibly commence, the Chairman of the Markets and Public Health Committee, replied, “I would hope that works could commence immediately … I would hope because as you see the beams are hanging there treacherously and it is not something we should play with.” He said that the visit to the wharf (on Friday) he hopes, will once again reopen and re-awaken the type of interest that had been shown ever since.
And asked, should anyone be injured during the time that Council is waiting to commence repairs, would they take liability, Mr. Jordan replied: “I want to believe that Council will have to accept liability, because the Council is aware of the state and position of that wharf and it is Council’s responsibility to effect repairs.”
He stressed that, the fact that the Markets and Public Health Committee had recommended that the area be cleared and the administration has still not done that, it means the administration and not particularly the Council, will have to accept responsibility.

(By Shirley Thomas)