– ‘Vending will continue; lawlessness will not’
– says Minister Edghill

MINISTER of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, alongside officials from the Sea Defence Board, convened with vendors at the Kitty seawall on Wednesday afternoon to dispel misinformation regarding the removal of vendors and address compliance issues at the Georgetown Sea defence reserve.

Contrary to false narratives propagated by certain media outlets and opposition members, Minister Edghill affirmed that authorised business operators will continue their operations on the seawall.
He emphasised, “Vending will continue, lawlessness will not,” clarifying that the government’s goal is not to stifle small businesses but to ensure adherence to regulations.

The minister clarified that vendors who have been granted permission by the sea and river defence will be allowed to continue operating their businesses on the seawall while speaking with them. According to him, “Vending will continue, lawlessness will not, and any misinformation that the government is removing vendors is clear mischief-making.”

“What we are doing is ensuring that everybody who got a licence—your licence told you or your letter of permit told you—of the conditions to which you must adhere to, and those conditions must be upheld,” he said.

The minister highlighted several significant violations and breaches by the vendors on the Kitty Seawalls, clarifying that the government does not intend to suppress small businesses, as some individuals on social media falsely claimed. He also mentioned that their objective is to develop, enhance, and broaden the road, which will assist in easing the traffic congestion on Carifesta Avenue, especially during peak hours.

According to Minister Edghill, “What are those conditions? No permanent structures; your vending space should be no more than 100 square feet, you should be 15 feet away from the edge of the road; you are supposed to clean up after every vending; and number five, whatever you put up must be aesthetically sound and lend to the beauty of what we are doing as a country.”

Regarding the removal of some vendors from the Kitty roundabout area (from the roundabout to where the statue is), Minister Edghill stated that some people have set up their businesses in that area, knowing that it was never designated for vending purposes.

“Because of what was transpiring, we could not have allowed it to continue… The understanding was that those people who were vending in that area would be fitted into a designated area so that they would also have a chance to vend…so that they would not be out of business as well,” the minister said.

Vendors should be constantly reminded that the area is a sea and defence reserve, where unexpected events can happen. Therefore, it is crucial for emergency units, law enforcement, and other officials to have unrestricted access at all times.
Re-emphasising the importance of small businesses in Guyana, Minister Edghill said, “Every effort is being made by the People’s Progressive Party Civic government to promote small businesses.”

At the same time, the Sea and Defence Board released a statement expressing their ongoing struggles with approved business operators who fail to comply. There are currently 55 vendors operating from semi-permanent and permanent structures installed at the sea defence reserve without a set end date.

The options consist of modified shipping containers and built bars that greatly surpass the maximum allowed size set by the Board. Furthermore, the sea defence reserve’s appearance and cleanliness are negatively affected by the ongoing storage and accumulation of abandoned items and waste.

Noise complaints related to weekend activities along the Georgetown Seawalls have been increasing in recent months. To tackle these problems, the Board has consistently collaborated with vendors to strengthen and clarify its requirements.
The Georgetown Sea Defence Reserve noted that it is undergoing a thorough enforcement operation to eliminate all vending structures that do not meet the size and portability regulations set by the Board.

This initiative aims to enhance the overall beauty and socio-environmental conditions of the area. Additional adjustments will be undertaken to achieve consistency and uniformity in the vending operations in the future. All affected vendors will be adequately engaged during the implementation of these measures and will be provided with guidance on requirements for their continued operation.

The board commenced the first phase of engagements with vendors on April 22, 2024, and progressive meetings will be convened in the near future.
The Sea Defence Board emphasises that implementing these measures will greatly enhance conditions at the Georgetown Sea Defence Reserve.

Recreational and small business activities will proceed while adhering to specified social and environmental measures. Moreover, there will be future initiatives to revitalise waterfront areas designated for small business activities. The effectiveness of these proposed actions will depend on a strong collaboration between the Sea Defence Board and all parties involved.