VENDORS at the Meadow Bank wharf, Greater Georgetown, have lauded the Government of Guyana for their support in upgrading the facility.

The government has invested a whopping $200 million for the infrastructural improvements of the wharf.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha in speaking exclusively to the Guyana Chronicle earlier this month, had emphasised the government’s commitment to revitalising critical infrastructure to improve livelihoods.

These efforts, he had said, included the construction of a modern wharf, multiple new sheds, a reconstructed tarmac, and the removal of dilapidated structures. To maintain cleanliness and hygiene, the government has employed washroom attendants to ensure that the facilities remain in optimal condition for public use.

The upgrades are a fulfillment of President Dr. Irfaan Ali’s commitment to create a more comfortable, safe, and sanitary business environment for fishermen and vendors. The President during a visit to the wharf had inspected the facility and spent some time listening to the concerns of the vendors.

In a video recording, one vendor said, “This place look real nice. It elevate, and everything very beautiful right now.”

The vendors who spoke, lauded the government with one saying, “We seeing progress. We never get nothing like this done before. So, we looking to go again.”
Another vendor related that she sells with her husband, and her sister assists her in cleaning fish sometimes. She thanked the Dr. Ali-led administration for this advancement.

“First time, we couldn’t get to work comfortable like this. Sometimes when the rainfall, we can’t get to stand up comfortable like this,” a vendor stated. He said that with this upgrade, more money is being put back into their pockets because there is no need to pay for shelter from the rain.

Alongside this, the vendors commended the government for inserting a police outpost at the wharf. “The police outpost they put to help the crime. The lights them also. We never had no lights on the wharf,” another vendor said while expressing gratitude for the upgrades.

The vendors who spoke noted that the police would often visit them to ensure that they were okay and that no crimes were committed.

The vendors recalled numerous instances where customers, vendors and boat owners were robbed while at the wharf.

With the tracking devices installed on boats, the vendors said this will aid in finding those persons who may go missing while at sea. They confirmed that everything the Head-of-State has promised to do for them has been fulfilled, adding that everything is in pristine condition.

The vendors said that while more has to be done, they are grateful for all advancements made to the wharf thus far.

The Meadow Bank wharf is set to become a more secure and welcoming space for vendors and consumers alike, reinforcing the government’s ongoing commitment to national development and economic sustainability