THE Best/Klien Pouderoyen Market Tarmac was officially opened last Friday, and operations are expected to commence shortly. The tarmac, which was constructed in 2010, was prepared by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in conjunction with the Government of Guyana and the Regional Democratic Council of Region Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands).
It has a total of 320 six-foot by eight-foot spots for stalls. To date, 151 vendors have been registered to occupy those stalls, but the tarmac is currently still unoccupied.
The market tarmac was officially handed over to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman, Umesh Balram, by Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Norman Whittaker. The NDC is now responsible for the operations of the market.
“The NDC, as a local government body, would be the custodian of that asset. The NDC, as a corporate body, will be the owner of that asset, and will be ultimately responsible for ensuring that there are clear policies and guidelines on (its) use,” Minister Whittaker declared.
Each vendor will be required to sign an agreement which clearly outlines these policies and guidelines. A market committee was also set up, and the members are supposed to be meeting on a regular basis to look at issues and ways to make the market better.
The Minister further stated: “Government, in its desire to support the efforts of people at all levels to provide services that they need — that they can use — has been facilitating, providing resources to construct tarmacs all over this country, from Regions One to Ten.”
He advised that during the month of August, the ministry will be handing over 11 market tarmacs, including the one at Klien Pouderoyen, to NDCs in Regions 2, 3, 4 and 5.
According to him, these tarmacs were constructed at a cost of more than $230 million.
While the Best/Klien Pouderoyen market tarmac will be used as a market area on a daily basis, permanent structures for stalls will not be constructed. This is so that the tarmac can facilitate other activities in the evenings, such as sports and entertainment.
The ministry will now be working to relocate vendors from the roadside to the market tarmac.