–Minister Parag highlights after observing ‘awful’ conditions, engaging concerned vendors

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, has said that she is disheartened at seeing the deplorable conditions that vendors have been enduring for years at the Stabroek Market.

She wanted to see for herself what the situation was like, having heard of the complaints that vendors have been making for years.

On Friday, they were able to express such concerns to Minister Parag as she engaged in a walkabout at the location, along with several party councillors.

Minister Parag was able to see first-hand the unclean and unsafe market space that exists not only for the vendors, but for every person visiting the market on a day to day basis.
In an invited comment, Minister Parag said that the councillors have been trying to make interventions at the level of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for more to be done to restore the market, however, no progress has been made on this.

He said: “So I decided to do a walkabout in the market with them to see the state of the market and to hear the complaints and issues of persons. As you know, we at the ministry have our side to work on the market but specifically these areas, the Mayor and City Council has oversight.”

Minister Parag stressed that the work of maintaining the market belongs to the M&CC, noting: “I am really disheartened at what I’ve been seeing so far, walking through these areas, and these markets have been plagued with these kinds of issues for years, and nothing has been changing.

“Nothing has been changing for them although we have persons, such as the councillors who are here, and the reason they are here is that they have been making these complaints in the meetings so that they can try and get them addressed but that’s not happening.”

Based on the observations made throughout the market, as well as the complaints and pleas from vendors for betterment, the market has a serious leakage, drainage and garbage issue together with a deplorable structure and unsanitary facilities. Space, or the lack of space for people and goods (food, cleaning and clothing items) was also another issue.

The vendors were not hesitant in telling the minister about the awful conditions under which they have worked for years and are pleading with officials to look after the market.

According to the minister, these are things that the M&CC should be doing, but fail to do. The M&CC is responsible for the local government functions of the capital city.