THE Ministry of Public Works has issued its final notice to vendors who are occupying the spaces along New Market Street between Thomas and East Streets, opposite the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

Persons were advised 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 Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the main public health institution in the country, the Public Works Minister said.

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

Vendors were reminded 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, has 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 will not be responsible for any damage or loss when these encumbrances are removed.

The Minister of Public Works, and by extension the Government of Guyana has urged full compliance with the order to ensure an uninterrupted process.