By Indrawattie Natram

THE construction of a state-of-the-art multimillion-dollar market at Charity in Region Two will commence in January 2024 and is expected to be completed within a two-month period.
This was disclosed by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud, on Wednesday, during a meeting with vendors.
Persaud explained the project in detail and said that the new market will cost the Government of Guyana approximately $286 million. Builders Hardware and General Supplies has won the bid to construct the structure which will measure 152 feet by 164 feet.

During the meeting, Persaud said that while vendors may say that the project took a while to come on stream, it must be understood that money had to be sourced to fund the construction.

“Monies for this were not allocated in the 2023 budget. The same thing happened in Parika and we went back to parliament. We got some monies and that took some time. We had to do the drawings etc. and Minister Deodat was here also engaging the vendors,” Persaud said.
He told the vendors that work is expected in January.

The minister added that a suitable location will be identified to house the vendors during the construction period and security will be provided.
“I want to ask you to co-operate. We will be working with the contractor to ensure he spends late hours so that you can get to your market earliest,” Minister Persaud said.
The minister also explained that the government is eager to commence the construction so that vendors can continue with their trade after a devastating fire destroyed dozens of stalls in July this year.

He also said that the contractor has already procured the steel and other materials to commence the work and he envisions that once it starts, the market should be completed in two months.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairperson, Vilma De Silva said that she is satisfied with the design and she is hoping that the project will be completed in 2024. She therefore called on vendors to co-operate so that the construction can be a smooth.

Chairperson for the Charity-Ursara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Chandrawattie Comal said that she is happy that the contract was awarded. She said that vendors have suffered and the government has acted promptly to bring some relief to them.
Vendors who attended the meeting requested copies of the bill of quantities for the project. They also said that they are anticipating the construction so that they can sell in a more spacious environment.

The July 6 electrical fire destroyed 25 stalls. The Guyana Police Force had disclosed that ranks and fire responders observed sparks and smoke coming from an electrical meter.