M&CC restricts access to Stabroek wharf, displaces vendors
-King blames lack of finances for delay in completing site or relocation
The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday moved to restrict access to sections of the dilapidated Stabroek Market Wharf, leaving scores of vendors displaced as Town Clerk Royston King said a lack of funds has delayed the completion of works at the site identified for their relocation.
Stallholders were served with a notice on August 30th advising them to cease operations at the wharf within two weeks in order to facilitate repairs to the structure. King told a news conference yesterday that the council took action to limit activities of vendors and their customers at the wharf by cordoning off sections. He added that the entire wharf would be closed to the public within the next week but noted that completion of the site to accommodate the vendors could take up to a month.
As a result, when council workers put up barricades at entrances to the wharf yesterday, many of the vendors voiced their anger at the fact that the M&CC had not fulfilled its promise to relocate them.
“We had meetings and so with the Town Clerk and they gave we the notice but they said they would put things in place for us. We have goods in we stall and we have nowhere to put it. If they find somewhere and say, ‘Hay you gon’ work,’ we will remove,” an angry vendor said.
The woman further lamented that she and others only received a fresh batch of fruit, vegetables and other items on Wednesday. “We get goods up to yesterday (Wednesday). Why he (King) didn’t stop the boat since last week… everybody collect goods yesterday! Wah you gon do with de goods?” she asked.
Another woman noted the plans to relocate them to Russell Square, west of the Public Buildings, from where Route 42 bus opera tors had been removed in order to accommodate the relocation.
“Now, nobody has a prob lem with moving because that was already discussed in the meeting but the point i put the adequate infrastruc ture in place so that the peo ple can relocate so as to con duct their business, so as to earn a livelihood. This i where the whole problem is—just find a relocation spot, pass the word, give i on to the people and let the people go and relocate,” a fruit vendor added.
The man, who asked not to be named, stated that no offi cial came to the wharf to tel them about their relocation “Well nobody didn’t come and give us no final word a to where we are gonna go and relocate. They just came and start to bar off the place,” he said.
“We got to move. Alright we agree with duh. But them