Dear Editor,
For years now I have known people to be at the Stabroek Market gates facing Demico House asking almost everyone who passes if they have gold and silver or anything else to sell. I am aware that we all have to survive, but over the years the numbers have increased and likewise their business has been questionable.
This has caused them to be occasionally raided by law enforcement and there have been some successful prosecutions, some for pedalling drugs or for using drugs right there.
Editor, many thefts are occurring around the market area and in Stabroek Market itself, and many people agree that most of the stolen items (cellphones, watches, glasses/spectacles, jewellery, etc) occasionally ended up with some of these people for resale. One would assume they knew several of the thieves and might be in collaboration with them, and they could also be pointing out unsuspecting prey to them.
This has caused lots of customers to shy away from the market, thus the legitimate business people there lose customers.
I have occasionally asked stallholders why they haven’t formed a committee to go to the relevant authorities and try to remove these people or monitor their actions, but all agreed that a network has been established between these suspicious men and some within the authorities, so they turn a blind eye and allow them to continue their activities.
Apart from that, some of these people come out on the road and along with those at the gates would pull and hold onto people’s hands when they are passing, and ask them what they have to sell. Many citizens are scared of them, because if a passer-by objects and raises their voice, a whole group of them would support their associate and the citizen will be verbally abused; this too makes people stop traversing the area.
Editor, it is time these people be removed from outside the Stabroek Market, or that they were monitored closely, because from all indications, much of the business they are conducting is illegal.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
