OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday received a hostile reception during a walkabout in the Stabroek Market area, with vendors referring to him as Pharaoh as they blamed the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) for their present plight. Jagdeo had promised to meet with the vendors when some of them had picketed outside of the Parliament Buildings last week. However, when he showed up on Friday, they seemed unprepared to engage him. Jagdeo was accompanied by Bishop Juan Edghill and other members of the PPP.

The former President, amid the ruckus, told the vendors at their relocated Hadfield Street square that all those who have encountered difficulties, the taxi drivers, the vendors, people who are plying their trade there, “we have heard your cry.”

He said some of the vendors could not raise their issues with him in an open fashion because they were intimidated.

“We have heard them,” Jagdeo said. Video footage shows a few of the vendors verbally abusing the former president, declaring that they will endure the tough times they have been through in recent weeks.

City Hall has been on a campaign to regulate street vending in Georgetown and relocated vendors in the process. In some instances, the council clashed with the vendors. Only on Thursday City Hall bulldozed the popular “Dread Shop.”

The council also said that as its sanitation and management programmes continue, a 24-hour ultimatum has been given to another group of persons breaching city rules and regulations.

This group illegally occupying public spaces on the western side of Mandela Avenue with makeshift structures and East Ruimveldt market vendors, who have also constructed illegal structures, taking up extra space in the process, have been asked to desist from their various activities.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) announced Thursday, that they have noticed extensions of vendors operating spaces. Town Clerk, Royston King said that, “The Council is concerned about vendors illegally increasing selling points, virtually repeating what is being restricted in the city centre.”

King said that several notices have been served on the vendors, but they continue to illegally expand. Notice has also been given to persons squatting along Mandela Avenue. These persons have constructed shacks and stored items on these properties.