—Upgraded facilities will improve hygiene, security and trading conditions across Guyana
THE Government of Guyana is moving to modernise markets across the country with upgraded facilities that will feature CCTV surveillance, improved sanitation, integrated waste management systems and organised vending spaces.
Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, outlined the initiative recently, saying the new generation of markets is being designed to provide safer, cleaner and more efficient environments for vendors and shoppers alike.
She explained that the upgraded facilities will include dedicated sections for meat, fish, vegetables and dry goods, allowing for better hygiene standards and more organised operations.
“We’re creating an organised space,” the minister said, explaining that vendors selling similar products would be grouped together to improve convenience for customers while making markets easier to manage.
According to Manickchand, modern sanitary facilities, CCTV security systems and integrated waste management will become standard features as the government seeks to transform public markets into modern commercial centres.
She said the designs are not developed in isolation but are informed by consultations with vendors, local authorities and community representatives to ensure each market reflects the needs of those who use it.
“It wasn’t just about drawing a building,” she said, noting that planners first engaged vendors, assessed the types of businesses operating in an area and determined the appropriate mix of vending spaces before finalising designs.
The minister said the modernisation programme extends beyond a single community and forms part of a broader effort to upgrade market infrastructure across Guyana.
Among the communities earmarked for new or improved markets are East Ruimveldt, Plaisance, Mon Repos, Bath, Port Mourant, Zeeland, Tuschen, Charity, Lethem, Number 69 Village and Mabaruma, among others.
Manickchand said the investments are intended to strengthen local economies by providing vendors with well-managed spaces in which to conduct business while offering consumers cleaner, safer and more convenient places to purchase fresh produce, meat, fish and other goods.
She added that the government’s objective is to ensure markets serve not only as places of commerce, but also as organised community spaces that support economic growth and improve the overall quality of public services available to citizens.
