Public Works Ministry to meet seawall vendors today
The Ministry of Public Works has extended an invitation to vendors who ply their trade along the Kingston Seawall, Georgetown, to meet to discuss the ongoing road project, Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill told Stabroek News on Friday.
According to the Ministry of Public Works, Sea Defence Department notice to vendors, the meeting will be held today at the Ministry of Public Works, Fort Street, Kingston, Sea Defence Board Room.
The notice stated that the meeting will be held in connection with vendor occupancy of the Georgetown Seawall reserves located between Camp and Vlissengen roads. A vendor, who did not wish to be named, told Stabroek News that they were required to pay $10,000 per month to the Sea Defence Department for the spots they are occupying. However, last November they were told by the head of the department that their monthly dues will not be collected until further notice.
According to the vendor, they are unaware of what triggered the sudden change but they are not alarmed since there was no indication of a formal statement that they were being removed from the area. Further, vendors beyond the monument area are expected to be allocated vacant vending spots between (Camp and Vlissengen roads) along the seawall to create order and ensure the lots are distributed properly.
The seawall, which is a popular hangout spot for many, has seen recent developments
Sewram Sewlochan of Bath Settlement, Berbice and Donella Dorwish, Georgetown have been declared the winners of Banks DIH Limited Coca-Cola Xmas Promotion. The two winners, accompanied by their party of three, will embark on a seven-night, all-expense paid trip to the Royalton Resort in St Lucia.
A press release from the beverage conglomerate said that the promotion, which concluded on December 23, 2023, witnessed an overwhelming response from consumers eager to unwrap the magic of the season. “We are overjoyed to congratulate Sewram Sewlochan and Donella Dorwish on winning the Grand Prize of our Coca-Cola Xmas Promotion. It is our pleasure to provide them and their chosen companions with an exclusive opportunity to create lasting memories at the Royalton as vendors ventured into setting up covered mini bars with tables and chairs to accommodate customers. A wide variety of food is also featured there.
Vendors emphasized that they are open for discussion about their occupancy and added that before they occupied spots along the area, applications with layouts had to be submitted to the Ministry of Public Works for approval. They were then granted permission to do business.
After approval they were issued with contracts that included their lot numbers. Prior to the sudden change in dues collection, frequent visits were made to the area to ensure that layouts of businesses were not violating the submitted proposals.
Resort in St Lucia,” said Carlton Joao, Sales and Marketing Executive, at Banks DIH Limited. The winners were selected through a random draw.
According to the release, the CocaCola Xmas Promotion was aimed at spreading the holiday cheer by offering exciting prizes to Banks DIH’s loyal consumers. The release said weekly prizes distributed around the country included kitchen appliances, branded merchandise and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The release also said that Coca-Cola expressed gratitude to all participants and extended its best wishes to the winners.
The Royalton Resort, according to the Banks DIH release, is renowned for its luxury, breathtaking views, and worldclass amenities, while ensuring a holiday experience like no other.