City Mayor vows to stand up to Gov’t

…amid threats to relocate Stabroek Market vendors 

Mayor of the City of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine said he will not stand idly by and allow the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration to threaten the livelihood of vendors, particularly those operating on the outskirts of the Stabroek Market.

“I will stand with you and by you because this here, it is your bread and butter, and I will not allow anyone, no political arm to remove you,” Mayor Narine assured vendors on Thursday during a public meeting within City Hall’s compound.

The well attended meeting was held just two days after Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn announced plans to relocate an undisclosed number of vendors who are reportedly hindering the smooth flow of traffic on the outskirts of the Stabroek Market, particularly those in close vicinity to the Georgetown Fire Station.

Amid loud rounds of applause, Mayor Narine said he had caused to stand up to a number of Government Ministers in 2020, following the change in Administration, and he is prepared to do the same this time around in the interest of vendors who ply their trade every day to keep food on their table.

“I will stand with the people of Georgetown, I will stand with the vendors and I will represent you,” the City Mayor assured those present.

He said the Irfaan Ali Administration is clamping down on vendors, while turning a blind eye to businesses within the Private Sector that continue to default on their rates and taxes, much to the detriment of the city.

Mayor Narine said just last week, he participated in a virtual meeting with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), during which the issue of vending arose.

“Why do you want to speak to me on vending when you are not calling on the business people to pay their rates and taxes,” the City Mayor questioned.

He added: “…This is not a town, this is the hub for the entire nation, and our taxes are not up to date by business entities in this city.”

The City Mayor said, like many business entities, the Government owes the City Council over $1B in taxes.

To further compound the situation, Narine said there has been no revaluation in rates and taxes for decades. The previous administration – the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) – had initiated the process, however, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel Dharamlall, just last month told Village Voice News that his Government has no intention to increase rates and taxes. According to him, Councils must find innovative ways to boost the collection of rates and taxes.

“So if we don’t have a proper revaluation in the city, Mayors will come and go, and the city will suffer. It will suffer. Administrations will come and go and the city will remain the same because you have political parties and leaders who don’t see one Guyana, they see a divided Guyana,” Narine warned.

Meanwhile, the City Mayor encouraged the vendors to adhere to the city bylaws, and to keep their surrounding clean, while again assuring them that he will not allow “any minister, any government agency to bulldoze” them.