URGENT rehabilitation works to the Stabroek Market Wharf will commence shortly, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) informed the media last week.

In about a week’s time, the Council would be meeting with vendors who operate in the area, to discuss the process of relocation to facilitate urgent repairs to the structure.

On Thursday last, a City Council delegation which included Town Clerk Royston King, Acting Mayor Ranwell Jordan, Councillor Junior Garrett, and members of the Council’s Finance Committee, met with Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr David Patterson, and senior officers who are responsible for works.

The M&CC has said that the Minister committed to helping City Council correct the situation at the Stabroek Market wharf. Senior officers of the Works Ministry would be assigned to work with the Council to help salvage the wharf from further deterioration.

Last September, a section of the badly dilapidated roof of the Stabroek Market wharf collapsed shortly before 05:00hrs, creating pandemonium, as vendors, just beginning to clean and set up their stalls for the start of business, began running helter-skelter for safety.
Fortunately for citizens and their businesses below, what saved the day was the fact that the section which gave way was intercepted by, and became propped up on, a firmly constructed stall beneath.

Among the activities taking place under the derelict covering are: speedboats and other boats plying the Stabroek/Demerara River crossing; the loading and off-loading of plantain and other vegetable boats coming from the Pomeroon and other riverine areas around Regions 2 and 3 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands); daily vegetable vending; and grocery stalls (wholesale and retail).

 
By Telesha Ramnarine