LACK of security at the Bourda Market and constant break-in by thieves are ‘old’ concerns that have again surfaced in light of the two most recent robberies there.
The City Constabulary Department received a report on Saturday of a robbery that had been committed in the ‘Bourda Green’ area sometime during Friday night and early Saturday morning.

A second report was received on Monday morning by the Constabulary of another robbery that occurred early Sunday morning in the area known as the ‘rice passage.’

For the second incident, Chief Constable Andrew Foo told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that two persons were arrested and are likely to be charged within 48 hours. He was speaking on the sidelines of the statutory meeting at City Hall.

The police are still investigating and it is still to be determined how the perpetrators gained entry to the market, whether it was by hiding inside there or actually breaking in after hours.

“There are certain hazards, certain weak areas on the structure of the market. It has certain defects which have to be addressed. They are serious, and the areas need to be addressed,” Foo pointed out, adding that the constant break in of stalls at this market is an “old concern.”

The Chief Constable said the ‘Bourda Green’ area needs more lighting. Furthermore, because many of the stalls in the passage ways are covered, it is difficult for the street lighting there to penetrate into the area.

Foo also commented that the issue also boils down to a shortage of manpower as there are merely three or four officers on the ground policing the market at nights. “And that is grossly inadequate,” he said.

Foo noted that he would be unable to speak on any immediate plans to bring relief to stallholders, and would leave this for the level of senior officials.

Just recently, Cabinet noted the award of several contracts by procurement agencies to develop and enhance the various sectors and better the lives of residents, including those at the Bourda Market.

Stall-holders and vendors plying their trade at the Bourda Market have been assured that their issues at the market will be resolved within the shortest possible time.

The first phase of the promise has reportedly been realized as Builders Hardware General Supplies and Construction was awarded in excess of $32M to carry out major rehabilitation works to the market.