PRESIDENTIAL Candidate of the PNCR, now APNU, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger and Regional Councillor for Region Four, Ms. Genevieve Allen met with scores of vendors around Georgetown on Tuesday last. According to the newly-formed party, the 100-odd vendors came from the various markets in Georgetown – Kitty, La Penitence, Bourda and Stabroek Markets to discuss their needs and the challenges they face during their day-to-day business activities.

The vendors reportedly shared the wish that the challenges they face be properly represented by an APNU Government.

“Vendors expressed concerns about operating in unsafe and unsanitary conditions daily as they do their vending. They also pointed to the fact that no one in Government was currently representing their interests,” APNU stated in a release yesterday.

APNU said the street vendors specifically spoke of a recent notice to move more than 200 hundred of them to a space that could only accommodate about 30.

It said other concerns raised by the vendors include the absence of proper sanitary facilities, underage youths liming, smoking and drinking around the markets; heavy competition arising from selling similar or same products by other business persons and harassment of customers by minibus touts. The vendors said that these difficulties also affect tourism.

Mr. Granger committed to rebuilding the markets and making the environment more safe and convenient for both shoppers and vendors. He further stated: “When we get into government, we are going to provide markets that you can be proud of…we are going to rebuild our markets beginning with Bourda Market”. The new market, he said, “will be able to accommodate all of our street vendors”.

Mr. Granger is also reported to have stated that those issues highlighted by the vendors were issues which can deeply affect the survival of Guyana’s markets. The candidate observed that vending is an essential activity and stressed its importance to the economy. Additionally, the Presidential Candidate said that an APNU Administration will extend micro-credit loans which will assist the vendors to acquire equipment in addition to improve their businesses.

Mr. Granger promised that the transportation sector will undergo a complete overhaul, thus eliminating the problem of touting near markets; a move which he says will also see a major reduction of road accidents and road deaths.

The Presidential Candidate ended by stating that, “improvements must come and will come to our city markets under an APNU Government”.