ALTHOUGH the East Ruimveldt Market remains operational, Constituency Councillor Trichria Richards has observed that many are hesitant about going into the market because of the deplorable conditions existing there.

Describing it as the only drive-through market in the Caribbean, Richards told the Guyana Chronicle that funds have already been set aside for various repairs and that the tendering process is what is now holding up the project.
The market will be repaired with funds from a government subvention to the tune of $24M, and the roads inside are expected to be done in partnership with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

According to Richards, the market needs to be re-fenced and gates have to be installed, so that the facility can be closed at a particular time each day. Further, the constabulary and revenue offices, which are in a deplorable state at the moment, also have to be repaired, along with the sanitary block.

The market houses more than 50 vendors but many of the stalls are empty at the moment because drivers especially hesitate to use the roads inside.

Councillors earlier this year voted that the $24M subvention from the Ministry of Communities be used for rehabilitation of the market, which is in addition to the $200M allocated in the national budget for the City Council.

Councillors voted 13 in favour of the proposal to use the funds on the marketplace, while seven voted against, and one councillor abstained from the vote.
The East Ruimveldt Market, located on Vlissengen Road and East Ruimveldt Front Road, was built by the City Council in 1978.

The market housed approximately 200 vending stalls, three public restrooms, and a City Constabulary office and was said to have been attracting 2,000 customers daily.
In 2016, repairs to the market’s main entrance commenced, which allowed for easier access to vehicular traffic.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had paid a visit late last year to the constituency to look at drainage issues affecting the area.

There, Councillor Richards requested financial help for upgrading the market and the ministry subsequently wrote the City Council asking that some of the subvention money be allocated to works there.