Vendors at Charity shun new $21M tarmac to occupy roadside again

Vendors are again occupying the roadside at Charity Public Road and this prompted councillors of the Charity-Urasara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to summon a special meeting recently to address the problem.

Last October the Charity roadside vendors were relocated to the new $21 million tarmac opposite the Pomeroon Oil Mill Inc.

At the recent meeting NDC Chairman Kenneth Persaud noted, however, that vendors have once again erected makeshift stalls on the public road shoulders and have resumed vending there in violation of the law.

Ali Baksh

Persaud said that this is happening although the area was cleared last October by the NDC in collaboration with the regional administration, the Public Works Ministry and the police.

Meanwhile this newspaper has learnt that permission for vending alongside the public road had been given to stallholders by the regional administration and the NDC, on condition that it was being allowed just for the festive season, and the area should be cleared within the first week in January.
However, that was not done by the vendors who continue to occupy the area illegally.

Region Two Chairman  Ali Baksh who was also present at the meeting told the councillors they should seek the intervention of the police since they are responsible for clearing the road shoulders.

The chairman also called on councillors to make the Charity Market area more appealing to the public by taking more action against defaulters.

Baksh said should any vending be done on the tarmac alongside the public road, only collapsible stalls should be used, and they should be attractive. He added that vendors should clear the road at an agreed time and this arrangement should be monitored by the councillors.