By Ariana Gordon
STABROEK vendors are calling on the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to heed the instructions of President David Granger to ensure that they are relocated in a timely manner.On Friday during his weekly televised programme “The Public Interest,” President Granger said while he was in support of the relocation of the vendors from the Stabroek Market Square, he was

disappointed over the delay in having the vendors resettled.
“I deeply regret that there has been some delay between the removal of the vendors, the cleaning up of the square and the resettlement. I would urge the City Council to hasten the resettlement, and ensure that every legitimate vendor is given a place to conduct his or her business in a lawful and more sanitary manner,” the President stated.
The displaced vendors were promised that they would be relocated to the old Royal Castle site located opposite the Linden bus park on Saturday. However, despite this promise, vendors who arrived at the said location Saturday morning after visiting the Clerk of Markets could not occupy the area.
Many were seen sitting on their temporary stalls with their items tied up in a corner nearby, while others sought to get information out of City Constables at the site.
“I really don’t know what is going on… they told us to come here this morning and like they themselves aint know wha going on…this is wasting people time,” a vendor told the Guyana Chronicle.
That vendor was backed by another, who said while she prefers to continue selling in the Stabroek Market Square, she will comply with the instructions.
“I would make more money out there, yeah. I been selling for 25 years, but I will see how it works,” she told the Guyana Chronicle. At approximately 10:00 hrs when this reporter visited the site, only two vending stalls were set up as other vendors who attempted to set up their stalls were stopped by the City Constables.
A constable who was manning the entire process was overheard telling the vendors, “You have to register first. Y’all just can’t come here and expect to get a spot…we will help you carry your things outside.”
But the entire process of being resettled appeared a tedious one that left scores of vendors frustrated, as they took shelter under the tents provided by the M&CC.
“Right now, I think is only the President can come here and deal with this matter. We are his supporters and we depend on him. If we are not pleased, there is always another election coming. Mr Granger should step in and protect us; he is our President and we put we trust in he,” a female vendor who gave her name as Elizabeth, said.
She berated the constables responsible for the relocation, stating that they “act like pigs.” The woman said she was tired of the entire situation. She said that though they are willing to comply, the process employed by the City Council is frustrating.

“Right now, I think is only the President can come here and deal with this matter. We are his supporters and we depend on him. If we are not pleased, there is always another election coming. Mr Granger should step in and protect us; he is our President and we put we trust in he.”

Even as she explained her plight, a constable was heard saying, “The six persons that were outside they are the only persons we know about…they [additional vendors] got to wait; they can’t just come suh.”
Meanwhile, a visit to the relocation site at approximately 16:00hrs saw many more City Constables and vendors gathered. The constables were seen talking amongst themselves, while many vendors sat on their fragile wooden stalls awaiting guidance.
A frustrated vendor said she was told to register on May 1 at City Hall to become eligible for a spot at the new vending location. She said she complied, but was told yesterday that she had to re-register.
“You think this is easy… these people treating we like we have no value. How much longer they gonna have we waiting here?” she asked, before indicating that she was at the site since 06:00hrs.
“Dem aint got no space fuh yuh yet…dem keep telling yuh wait, wait…is just ‘wait, wait’ yuh hearing whole day,” the angry woman told the Guyana Chronicle.
Shortly after speaking with the vendor, City Council officials were seen walking around with what appeared to be a list of the allotted vendors. This publication was informed that Town Clerk Royston King visited the site Saturday afternoon, but according to the displaced vendors, his presence was of no help to them.
“We does sell fuh we living…we aint thieving…they treating we suh bai I really don’t know…” Junior, a vendor for 10 years, said.
On Friday, City Hall said vendors needed to visit the Clerk of Markets office located aback Stabroek Market to register and at that time they’d be provided with stall numbers. The vendors were also required to sign contracts that would indicate the rules governing them temporarily occupying the location.
The 300 vendors affected by the relocation by the City Council are now unsure as to when they’d be able to occupy the new location. Some say they were told on Monday, while others are not optimistic.