– City Hall approves immediate construction of stalls

THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has finally started signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with vendors of the Stabroek Market Wharf. This means that the vendors can immediately begin construction of their stalls at the relocation site.
Deputy Town Clerk Sharon Harry told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday that the signing started on November 7 and continued through the 9th. M&CC officers are already on the ground, so that once vendors identify themselves and their spots, they can start construction.

Deputy Clerk of Markets Sharon Smith reminded that the vendors have agreed to purchase the materials for their new stalls with their own money. According to her, approximately 135 vendors are constructing stalls at the relocation site, which is west of the Public Building where Parliament is held.

As for repair works to the Stabroek wharf, the acting town clerk said the M&CC has no idea when those works will start. The last City Hall heard was that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was going to start works in the first quarter of 2018. No word has been forthcoming since then.

City Engineer Colvern Venture told this publication Friday that he is aware that the said ministry is currently engaging the consultant, who will be doing the feasibility study for the stelling.

The relocated vendors are expected to construct the stalls at their own expense and will be paying a rent of $6,800 monthly. It is estimated that one stall will cost some $400,000 to construct.

Additionally, the M&CC has also promised to look at drainage works, sanitary facilities and security lighting, among other things.

The vendors will have to adhere by building the stalls to the standard dimension of eight feet x 10 feet, and a maximum height of 13 feet. At this dimension, a total of 82 stalls are expected to fit in the designated relocation site.