Ministry, Stewartville/Cornelia Ida NDC partnering to reduce curb side vending

-Minister Dharamlall tells residents

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Hon. Nigel Dharamlall says his Ministry will work closely with the Stewartville/Cornelia Ida Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to regularise vendors who ply their trade along the roadway.

The Minister made this statement on Friday evening, during a meeting at the Leonora Secondary School after residents complained that vendors’ stalls were impeding the smooth flow of traffic in the area.

Secretary of the West Demerara Market Co-op Society, Secretary Mr. Azeezur Rahaman told the Minister that while the concerns are valid, the offending vendors are not members of the market.  He said that the Co-op has been dealing with this situation for five years and had notified the relevant authorities. To date, he said, nothing has been done.

“These are illegal vendors from Mon Repos, Plaisance, Wales, Parika markets. Day by day, when we took over the market, there was no one selling on the roadside, but that changed. Right now, we have someone collecting from these people for cleaning purposes among others,” Mr. Rahaman said.

The market currently accommodates about 220 vendors when it has the capacity to house 850.  Currently, a stall in the market costs $8,000 and the daily sanitation fee is $200.

Consequently, the Minister said while the NDC has the authority to stop the construction of illegal structures, he believes that discussions can lead to consensus.

“You will have to work with us to get ideas together and see how best we can find a common position to get people off of the road but at the same time, ensuring that they can continue with their livelihood.

So, we are not about removing people by taking away their livelihood, but we have to create an alternative where they can also have an opportunity to do their business,” he said.

Reflecting on the way in which the Anna Regina Township managed its vendors by providing collapsible stalls, Minister Dharamlall said, “we have to start looking at things in a regulated way, and in a proper way.”

The Minister also suggested discussing with Minister of Labour, Hon. Joseph Hamilton the possibility of increasing the members of the market’s Co-op Society to reduce the number of roadside vendors.

Minister Dharamlall encouraged the local organs to ensure the market is implementing the gazetted precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid. He also disclosed that developmental works would soon be undertaken at the Parika market to reduce congestion.