VENDORS and fisherfolk, who ply their trade at the Meadow Bank Wharf, greater Georgetown, are calling for heightened police presence in the area along with rehabilitation works to be executed at the wharf to provide potable water at the establishment.
These concerns were raised with the Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, during a visit to the facility on Tuesday.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Indranie Sookhoo, a vendor, said she was one of the many victims who had encounters with bandits at the wharf, which has left her traumatised.

“We don’t have no security when you come through here, robbers them does come through, they does break your car and they do all sorts of things; they does even steal your battery from your car,” she said, adding, “And we, the small man, when we come morning time does got to feel afraid to come and walk up here; we does got to sit-down and wait until it gets like a group to come in.”
Additionally, the woman noted that fishermen and vendors have no access to potable water on the wharf, but there are food establishments there and the surroundings are required to be clean at all times. “We get water problem, plus in the morning you not get toilet, when you come here you don’t have no toilet facilities… we don’t get water, all like when we finish selling water now we don’t get water to wash up your stand,” she said.

Reiterating the same concerns as his colleague, Mahendra Baijnaha, another vendor, stated that he is hoping that the relevant authorities will listen to their pleas and provide better security at the wharf.
“I would glad for them to get a better market for we and get proper water and proper light and security system, plenty robbery does pass here; is every week somebody getting rob out here and is till after the robbery pass, is then the police coming and nobody not getting hold, after then you never hear nobody get hold for all them robbery that pass here.” Aside from the security issues in the area, Baijnaha told this publication that vendors have been working in unsanitary conditions since there is no potable water for them to use during the day, as well as no toilet facilities for them to relieve themselves.
“For starters, we not getting any water; two, we not getting proper price for our fish, and three, there is no washroom facility to use in the morning; matter of fact, in the whole day. There is no water to wash down your stand when you done sell. There is bad management.”

DO OUR BEST
Meanwhile, another vendor, Michael Thomas, said that while the fisherfolk and vendors do their best to keep their environment and working space clean and sanitised, it is hard for them to do so without running clean water and the proper facilities.
“We need water here, we need proper toilet facilities and them stuff, we also need the place to clean up,” said Thomas.
Minister Mustapha said the concerns raised will be addressed with urgency. He stated that he will be liaising with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Housing and water to address the immediate needs of the fishermen and vendors in the area.

“There are a number of problems that are plaguing this entity here; this is my first visit and a number of concerns were raised by the fishermen and the other stakeholders here,” he said, adding: “There are two burning issues that we have to tackle immediately, and those issues are security and potable water in this area here, and so, I will be [liaising] with those two with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Water Authority immediately.”
The minister further stated that he will be hosting meetings with the co-op of the wharf, the fishermen and other stakeholders to ensure that the fisherfolk who work in the meadow bank area are provided with the necessary facilities for a safe and clean working environment.
“If we want to develop this area, we have to develop proper security. They are also saying that when the police come, they are not taking the action that they are supposed to take. I plan to raise it with Minister Benn and I plan to have a joint meeting with the co-op, the fishermen and commander for Georgetown, so that we can enhance security at this place here,” he said.