LEADER of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton; Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine and other officials of the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) influenced efforts to obstruct the removal of carts, stalls and other encumbrances belonging to vendors who ply their trade illegally along New Market Street, opposite the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The Guyana Chronicle on Monday evening visited the scene where persons accompanied by APNU+AFC representatives, confronted officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other officials who were attempting to remove the encumbrances in accordance with a final notice issued to vendors by the Ministry of Public Works on Monday.

In its final notice to vendors, the ministry advised persons to remove all erected makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, motor vehicles, and other receptacles used for vending.

Those vendors have been impeding the smooth flow of traffic in the vicinity of the GPHC, the main public health institution in the country, the Public Works Ministry said.

The ministry had served “Violation Notices” prior to this, giving the vendors seven days to vacate the area.

Vendors were reminded on Monday that the seven-day period has expired and teams from the ministry will begin the removal process immediately.

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, reiterated that this type of illicit activity can no longer be tolerated as vending in this area is a hazard and it is causing serious traffic congestion.

“Health and safety must be a priority for all Guyanese; we have to try harder and we have to be conscious of what is [a] right practice and what is a wrong practice… there are times ambulances and other emergency vehicles will be trying to enter the gates at GPHC and from the vehicles parking indiscriminately, to these vending stalls taking up the parapets in its way, we cannot allow this to continue,” Minister Edghill said.

The New Market Street vendors were urged to remove all makeshift stalls, sheds, carts, caravans, or other receptacles used for vending or have those removed by the ministry’s team.

With the latter choice, the Public Works Ministry reported that it will not be responsible for any damage or loss when these encumbrances are removed.