REMEDIAL works are currently ongoing at the Stabroek Market Wharf and Stelling to make the facility safer for the public, even as the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) continues to work towards a complete overhaul of the facility.

The remedial works cost approximately $13M and is being carried out by the Transport and Harbour Department (THD) under the MoPI. “It’s remedial, no major overhaul. It’s to ensure we guarantee the safety of the commuters. We would’ve done some work on the area on the inside: the booking office, washroom, and the car park area. We’re now doing some works to the speed boat platform on the outside,” explained Chief Mechanical Engineer, Dwayne Griffith.

Griffith explained that the work first began in December 2019, but several factors have been affecting the timeline, nonetheless the works are expected to be completed in a few weeks. Griffith noted that, “the duration is a bit staggered because we have persons commuting there on a daily basis. Some of the works we have to do under the stelling, so low tide is when we can execute most of our works so our time to do work is limited. But we’re supposed to close off in about a week to two weeks’ time.”

The Stabroek Market Wharf and Stelling have been in a dilapidated state for some time. In 2018, vendors at the wharf were relocated to a section of the Stabroek Market Square, after it was labelled a danger zone for the vendors and other citizens. Further compounding the issue, in November 2018, the wharf was ravaged by fire in a suspected act of arson.
In 2017, the Caribbean Development Bank approved a grant of $161M to fund a feasibility study and designs for the rehabilitation of the coastal and river infrastructure including the Stabroek and Vreed-en-Hoop Stellings. According to reports, Mott McDonald, a consultancy group from the United Kingdom, was contracted to conduct a feasibility study, which had been expected to be completed last November. Up to press time on Thursday, the MoPI had not responded to an email for an update on the feasibility study. Griffith noted that in addition to the Stabroek Market Wharf and Stelling, the THD has also carried out similar remedial works at three other stellings. “Works of a similar nature were done at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling. We did most of the work there in the parking lot area to the tune of approximately $9M. We also did works at Rose Hall and New Amsterdam to the tune of $12M and $13M,” he said.