–causing vendors to plead for heightened police presence around Stabroek Market

By Naomi Parris

SEVERAL vendors who ply their trade around the Stabroek Market are calling for heightened police presence in the area as many consumers are afraid to shop there due to the spike in the number of robberies in recent weeks.
They say that on top of having to deal with the vagaries of COVID-19, they also have to contend with their own ‘epidemic’ with the upsurge in activity of petty thieves and robbers which has been hindering customers from shopping in the area.
One vendor, who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Guyana Chronicle that because known petty thieves and delinquents have taken to patrolling the area of late, it is becoming more and more difficult for him to make a living these days.

What makes it even more unsettling, he says, is that despite there’s a police outpost nearby, it doesn’t seem to bother the criminals not one jot. And, from all appearances, neither do the authorities seem to want to apprehend the wrongdoers much less address the situation.
The man, who sells mostly fruits on the marketplace, disclosed that he would have brought the matter to the attention of the Mayor and City Council on many occasions, and asked that they to look into it, but, unfortunately, nothing has been done to date.
Another vendor, who gave her name as ‘Black Girl’, disclosed that she has been managing fairly well, in terms of sales, and has been trying her best to adhere to all the COVID-19 directives, so as to protect herself and customers. “We managing out here; but, yuh know, it li’l tough. I continue doing my normal routine; yuh know, washing my hands and suh. I’m not letting customers touch the fruits and vegetables, because, you don’t want anybody to catch or spread anything,” the woman said.
She, however, noted that things could be much better if there were better security in and around the marketplace, particularly during this pandemic, since many petty thieves have been using the mandatory face-mask ruling to commit their crimes and make good their escape.
“Security is the big issue,” ‘Black Girl’ said, “because, like de thief-men dem, by they wearing de face mask now, they are taking advantage.”
She noted that because of this mandatory wearing of the face mask, it has been hard for persons to identify the thieves among them, but she believes that with heightened police presence on the market, the situation can be dealt with.
Loriann, who also plies her trade on the Stabroek Market, disclosed that in recent weeks, sales have slowed up tremendously, due to the number of petty thieves and upsurge in crime in the market area.

“There are a lot of petty thieves out here,” Loriann said, adding: “And you could never find the police or the constables at the said time; is after it done happen, then you see the police coming… It’s really affecting customers coming to buy, because it happens right in front of us.”
The woman also noted that many a times she’s wanted to make a report or speak out, but out of fear, she stays quiet, since she has been threatened on several occasions.
She, too, noted that the perpetrators have been taking advantage of the COVID-19 compliance to commit their crimes with the wearing of the face mask, which makes it difficult to identify or trace them.