– explores possible solutions
Hard hit by floods, stallholders at the Stabroek Market are looking to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to put a permanent solution in place to address the age old issue that have resulted in millions of dollars in losses over the years.
On Monday, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall dispatched a team from the Ministry to meet with stallholders at the Stabroek Market after the facility was inundated with water due to a recent springtide.
During the visit, the vendors did not mince words as the implored Government to address the burning issue.
One vendor, Ryan Boodhoo, explained that after the water recedes, stallholders are left to mop-up the heavy sludge left behind with some assistance from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council.
He noted that despite paying their rental fees, the City Council has failed to repair or replace a broken valve on one of the pipelines that has been out of service for the past six months making access to water to aid in the clean-up efforts, severely restricted.
Another vendor said several attempts were made to secure assistance from the Guyana Fire Service to thoroughly wash and sanitize the market but to no avail.
During the visit, the team observed that the internal drains of the market were clogged and efforts were being made to have this situation remedied. One vendor suggested that simply cleaning and widening of the drains could lead to easier and speedier draining off of the excess water after a high tide.
The team, comprised Principal Regional Development Officer, Surendra Khayyam; Public Relations Officer, Whitney Ethard; and Municipal Services Officer, Ronald Beckles. In a statement, the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry said the team not only met with the vendors but sought solutions to the frequent flooding of the market during the high and spring tides.
Clerk of Markets, Sherlock Lovell and Deputy Clerk of Markets (ag), Melroy Gordon, who updated the team on the situation, disclosed that the market was closed for business during the morning hours owing to the overtopping.
The team also met with member of the Market Committee, Seeru Deo who represented the interest of the vendors and several recommendations were put forward including a review of the internal drainage and the elevation of the market floor by as much as three feet.
City Council’s Sanitation Manager, Walter Narine has since undertaken to have both Stabroek and Bourda Markets pressured washed and fumigated on Tuesday and Sunday respectively.
