—109 verified vendors to receive designated spaces as road upgrade continues

MINISTER of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill has assured the public that the ongoing relocation of vendors in the La Grange/Bagotville area is being carried out through a “fair and transparent process,” as the government moves ahead with the expansion and upgrade of the road from the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Speaking during a live broadcast on Saturday, Minister Edghill explained that 109 verified vendors have been documented and will be assigned numbered spaces as part of the relocation process.
He emphasised that only those vendors whose names appear on the official list will be accommodated at this stage.
Edghill noted that once vendors complete selling on Sundays, all stalls must be dismantled to allow contractors to continue improving the road to an all-weather standard.
The road-expansion project forms part of the government’s efforts to upgrade a key corridor used daily by commuters, farmers and businesses.
Speaking from the La Grange/Bagotville area, the minister highlighted the need to relocate vendors who traditionally sell along the roadside on Sundays.
“We are expanding and upgrading the road from the Harbour Bridge all the way to here. A contract is in place,” Edghill said.
He pointed out that the roadside location currently used by vendors is not a designated market area and poses challenges for traffic and ongoing construction works.
“There are a number of persons who sell on the roadway on Sundays in the La Grange area. This is not a market. This is the side of the road where people come every Sunday and put up stalls. Farmers bring produce from the Number One Canal, Number Two Canal and other areas,” he said.
In response to the situation, the ministry engaged vendors to discuss relocation arrangements as the road works progressed.
Following consultations, two areas were identified to be developed into organised vending spaces for Sunday activities.
“Last week we came and met with the vendors, explained the work and agreed that we will develop two areas: the street leading to the police station and both shoulders,” Edghill explained.

He added that when the initial space proved insufficient, an additional area was identified along the southern side of the Number One Canal to accommodate more vendors.
The ministry’s technical team conducted a full assessment of the market activity and documented the vendors operating in the area.
“We agreed that the technical team would do a full walkthrough on Sunday, which is the busy market day, and document everybody who is selling and photograph what the business looks like,” Edghill said.
Saturday’s exercise saw vendors selecting their vending spots through a random allocation process to ensure fairness and avoid favouritism.
“We are dealing with 109 persons who can be verified, and that’s what we are doing. We will have a verified list of who is to get numbers and slots,” the minister said.
He cautioned that persons whose names do not appear on the verified list will not be accommodated at this stage.
Despite the relocation, vendors and farmers will still be able to sell their goods and produce at the designated spaces.
Edghill explained that while vendors will initially be required to dismantle their tables and stalls after selling on Sundays, the ministry will continue improving the area to make it more suitable for vending.
“When they finish selling on Sunday, they will collapse their tables and stalls and we will continue working to improve the tarmac to a more all-weather surface,” he said.
However, the minister made it clear that vending along the roadway will no longer be allowed.
“There will be no selling on the road on Sundays. That is why we are transferring everybody into the designated areas so the contractor can proceed with the work, while ensuring people’s livelihoods are not disrupted,” Edghill said.
He reaffirmed that the relocation process will continue to be managed in a fair and transparent manner as the road upgrade progresses.