Dear Editor,
Accompanied by officers of the City Constabulary, the City Engineers Department and the Clerk of Markets, I visited the Stabroek Market area on Tuesday and was saddened by the general environment, worsened by complaints from several quarters, all of which point to the congestion of the area outside of the Stabroek Market.
The state has stubbornly refused to discuss with the municipality the implementation of aspects of the Georgetown Development Plan 2001-2010, which cost millions of dollars to prepare, a plan which the cabinet after certain adjustments, endorsed and certified for implementation. This was seven years ago.
Instead of following a well-prepared plan to relieve the congestion of this area, we saw a minister of the government pounce on the Stabroek Market vehicle park without consultation with the Georgetown municipality, arbitrarily put minibuses to occupy that area, which the Georgetown municipality had used as a paid parking facility for over seventeen years.
The result is that these very minibuses utilizing the car park now complain that they are being muscled in an area called the ‘hotplate’ putting them at a disadvantage. Entering the market itself several business people again complained bitterly that they have been denied use of the car park, which they used for several years. They are now forced to travel some distance with their goods, money and jewellery since there is no parking facility for themselves or their customers. An unacceptable, stressful situation.
The absurdity of this situation has been highlighted before. The crassness of this arbitrary action by a government functionary is the opposite of democracy and decency.
This is compounded by complaints from vendors and citizens that as a people, we cannot be proud of the kind of behaviour that now takes place in this area improperly seized by a government minister, ignoring the need to execute a well thought-out plan accepted by his own government.
One would hope that the energies of this high official would be directed to securing the safety of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, among other areas of his responsibility.
This violation is a symptom of an unhappy trend, which, instead of bringing order to the city, has created more disaffection, disillusionment and disorder. There can be no substitute for a plan to ease the congestion in our central business areas.
The reason offered as in the case of the Monument is a shibboleth, a sham and a shame. But now who will bell the cat?
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green, JP
It is a shame that Mr. Green is the only one that has to be vocal on these issues.The man was and will never be a shining light for democracy,but imagine he is the only one talking about the ills that is being allowed under the PPP. Where is Corbin?busy being in love with the idea of being opposition leader?
I thought Mr. Green re-join the PNC,if so why don’t the PNC come out and talk on these issues.
Shame on Benn,running around the place fighting a powerless mayor while the harbor bridge and other infrastructure fall apart.
Mr. Mayor, you seem, as usual, not to understand the your powers as Mayor of the city. Understand those powers and stop playing politics. Work for the people of the city;use your police force and city Government more effectively. If you cannot effectively manage the affairs of the city demit office. I was recently in Guyana and saw neatly uniformed members of your force standing idly as crime was committed in their presence and they took no action. Someone who also witnessed the criminal infraction commented that “deh a paper police”. Why have a city police force if they are inept? Under 28.1 your police have the power to provide citizens with more effective law enforcement than that offered by the National force. Mr. Mayor don’t complain about congestion on city streets,do something about it. ISNM
Mr Mayor,what about those street dwellers who were suspected of being killed on the pavements of Georgetown,and these”Juckkers”who sleep on the pavements and create a hazard for citizens.As Mayor and Justice of the Peace,there is much more you can do to improve the City of Georgetown.Writing letters is good,but taking positive action is better.Accept your responsibility.
What responsibility did he have Big D. He never had any.He was always given a free ride, Up to today.He should be booted out of office.?
The place is literally a dumpster, and one of the filthiest places in the capital, and with shame,a national eyesore. Very nasty place.Stabroek square should be cleaned up,with no traffic flow along the east, north,or south side of the market,or any street vendors allowed outside there, with only vendors inside the market. The square should be redone with trees and landscaping.
I agree with your thoughts. It seems as Guyana projects into the future, the more things are getting backwards or remains the same. “Where is pride in country”? Simple things like cleanliness is gone with the winds. It appears as if there is no need for city council when things like garbbage disposal and traffic control in one of the busiest area is being over looked. The question is how can we attract foreigners to visit our country and increase tourism when we simply cannot manage the simple tasks at hand.
After recently visiting Guyana and the Stabroke Market area, I sincerely agree with the above coment made by Caesar Agustus. It took my family and I about 25 minutes to navigate from the old car park area to the the front of Demico. Evidently, there were lots of uniformed members, but their roles just appeared to be one of “the flexing of power”. For example, as my brother and I were walking between the stahls in an attempt to purchase some mangoes, my brother attempted to open the wraper of the fudge he was eating and the wind took the paper out of his hands. Two uniformed members withness this event and the younger of the two returned menacingly towards my brother and haughtily told him to pick the paper up before he even had the chance to do so on his own. I applauded his action, but thought it senseless when the enrire street was littered with trash and a little distance away, someone made a local dumster of the streets and nothing was being done about it. There were piles of trash all over the place..
Another reflection on how lawless things has become is the fact that all trash is being thrown in the Cemetery by the city amidst the final resting place of our “Loved Ones”
What about “Oh Beautiful Guyana”?
What is your problem Mr Geen, the Monument? or not being in Control anymore…you are always nit picking like some spoilt child. In the past on one listened, that’s why every thing is so broken down Mr Green, and you were part of that.
.Tangerine
what is the solution? if the city council is broke, why is there a need for city council and a mayor?
The solutions is to let local govt reform takes it’s course,follow by local govt elections. The ppp is holding up this process because they believe that they will loose that elections.
How can the city council do all these stuff when they are broke. I am not giving hammie a pass,but besides him being a failure there,the council is broke and cannot flex it’s muscles.
This place is such a disgrace,crawling with filth.thrash,crime, unexplained running water,garbage,faeces,you name it,that I often wonder. Our leaders,Ministers,travel very often overseas, for years.One wonders what do they see outside of Guyana, or if they are running after foreign women,joyriding,or what. Because what they are obviously seeing outside,they are NOT implementing in Guyana.I have a postcard of the Stabroek Market in the Fifties. It was a beautifully landscaped orderly area like the Botanic Gardens.Those at the helm,responsible for maintaining the city of Georgetown are total failures.Contributors to the national disgrace. The capital City.They should be removed from office.