Dear Editor,

I WRITE to express grave concern about happenings in and around the Bourda Market which occur every day and every night, circumstances that leaves much to be desired from the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. Daily a gang of youngsters can be seen riding their BMX bicycles up and down Robb Street in the vicinity of the market performing all sorts of bike stunts including wheelies, stoppies, bump jumps, and bunny hops. Many times these youngsters lose control of their bicycles crashing into persons either accidentally or purposefully where their victims end up being robbed. All this occurs under the noses of the City Constabulary whose officers are least interested in preventing this dangerous and illegal activity being undertaken. Secondly, in spite of the fact that wet markets all over the world have come under scrutiny amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, with calls to ban them to prevent further pandemics, and to control zoonotic infections being spread, we see each afternoon outside the Bourda Market vendors selling raw chicken to the public. These vendors have no refrigeration capabilities; this creates an ideal situation for the growth of a good number of microorganisms that can lead to foodborne illnesses and deaths. They are improperly dressed and engage in poor food handling practices, yet the Public Health Department seems unbothered by the state of affairs.

Thirdly, there are hardly any working street lights on the roadways contiguous to the Bourda Market, causing the streets to be pitch black in the evening, a nightmare for citizens trying to shop after they have finished working. This is a huge safety risk, not to mention the hazard of slipping on a banana peel or the skins of other fruits and vegetables.
But most upsetting of all, is the drive-through shopping practiced by many shoppers who decide to embark on their grocery shopping without getting out of their vehicles. Now if each of these unscrupulous shoppers opts to utilise 10 minutes to shop all the items they need while haggling with vendors to get better pricing, it is quite easy to understand the gridlock is causes. The Constabulary happily observes this situation without lifting a finger to bring this chaotic situation to an end.
Finally, the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) of Guyana has said numerous times that the sale of pesticides and other toxic chemicals from roadside vendors is dangerous to public health and against the law, yet we see vendors around this market freely selling rat poison.
How much more irresponsible could the Georgetown Municipality be?

Best regards.

Deodarie Putulall