WORKERS of the Port Mourant Market on the Corentyne in East Berbice (Region Six) should have received their monthly salaries on Friday last, but this did not happen because of “foot-dragging” by the Port Mourant Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).Workers downed tools yesterday, causing concern among vendors about sanitation in the market in their absence over the weekend.
Regional Executive Officer Dr Veerasammy Ramayya and Prime Minister’s Representative in Region 6, Gobin Harbhajan, responded to complaints from the workers and visited the market yesterday.

Vendors complained that the strike had resulted in the sanitary facilities in the market being closed, with no alternative site being available. The buildup of garbage had already resulted in a pervasive unpleasant odour, particularly in the fish and meat sections of the market.

Ramayya described the Port Mourant NDC as a PPP/Civic-dominated Council whose members had been very callous and insensitive in not processing the workers’ payments on time. He expressed hope that the NDC would expedite payment by Monday latest, since the pile-up of garbage due to heavy sales over the weekend would precipitate a major health hazard that would be detrimental to vendors and the neighbouring community if not removed.