Moving the Mon Repos Market

Chanderedeo Mahadeo

This week we asked people at the Mon Repos Market how they felt about the recent news that vendors will have to relocate to facilitate the extension of the four-lane highway on the East Coast road. Their views follow:

Chanderedeo Mahadeo
Chanderedeo Mahadeo

Chanderedeo Mahadeo, vendor – ‘The tarmac here could move but leave those people inside the market. Those people invest a lot into their business and it’s not fair that they have to start all over again. If they are going to compensate them for the breakage and rebuilding then we don’t have a problem.’
Dayo, vendor- ‘I feel very unhappy and dissatisfied that we have to move. When you move is like you have to build a whole new clientele because the customers won’t want to have to look for you. If they put us somewhere far, who will want to go and search for us? People want somewhere convenient. I am very mad that they moving us.’

Dayo
Dayo

Harideo Sarendranauth, vendor- ‘We shouldn’t move. I feel bad. We are dependent on this income. Saturday is the only day we come out here for our daily bread and now they want to move us. It is unfair. I signed a contract with NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] and the market people. I have to pay $2000 every week to sell out here. They moved me from in front of the gate and told me to come here. Now that I am here, they want me to move. It really isn’t fair. It’s one day a week I am selling out here. How they expect people to make an honest living?’

Seeraj Bhimsaim, taxi driver- ‘This market needs to go because it is on the highway. No market supposed to be on the highway for safety reasons. It is dangerous for persons. I would feel better if they move it. Last week there was a meeting and before the market people give the NDC people a chance to talk, they start acting up and the meeting had to be put off. They should allow them to build the road because they will be getting a better market. This market here is prone to flooding and so on. The new one will also have better security for

Harideo Sarendranauth
Harideo Sarendranauth

them.’

Lennox Anthony Gonsalves, vendor- ‘I feel offended because I have been selling here 17 years now. They already moved us from inside the market because they said there wasn’t enough space for us. Now they serve us with letters that we have to move again. We don’t even know where they want us to go. I heard that it’s Agriculture Road they plan to relocate us to. Who is going there? If we got to protest we are going to do that. It’s not right what they’re doing. It’s only one day we come out here and sell.’

Seeraj Bhimsaim
Seeraj Bhimsaim

Raul Persaud, vendor – ‘I was selling here since before the tarmac was here; more than five years now. I knew they were going to move us since they put us here the first time. But most of the people out here now are new. So they probably do not know about that. They told us it was temporary and whenever they are ready they will move us. So I don’t mind moving. Just as long as they provide somewhere that business would bloom. Mon Repos Market was successful because of where it was – at the road side. I just hope the new location is feasible. I am looking forward to the meeting on Wednesday.’

Boodnarine Singh, vendor – ‘My brother and I sell here for our mother. It will throw us out. We got to move and that is a fact indeed, but where are they putting us? Customers would not leave and go till inside to find us. Location is the problem. Once it is good, we do not mind. I am looking forward to the meeting on Wednesday.’

Chandrawattee Doodnauth, vendor – ‘I heard about the news because everybody was talking. And I was shocked. I am concerned about the

Lennox Anthony Gonsalves
Lennox Anthony Gonsalves

situation and the location. This move will affect me because business will drop. Customers would not find us. And also, I want to know if this new location will be stable; or if they will keep moving us over again. I would be happy also if we have better buildings and stalls when they move us. Not those chicken pens that they call stalls. Those things are not safe. We want protection from thieves when we lock our stalls up at nights. And what will we do in the time being? We will be out of jobs. I think we should be compensated.’

Raul Persaud
Raul Persaud

Anjanie Narine, vendor – ‘I still do not know why we have to move or what is the reason behind it. Since I came here about 13 years ago, they told us we may have to move because this market is not permanent. But I am just asking for somewhere convenient and safe. They should not do it so sudden, we depend on this market for money every week. If we will be stalled up for a long time they have to compensate us. They cannot just up and move us. They must have convenient preparations. It will put us out of a job and that does not make any sense. But I understand we have to move and it is not something we could fight against.’

Bhuplall aka Luv, farmer – ‘The government must have a proper place in store. If we are to locate, it must be proper, not a background market. I do not want to hide in no hole because that will be a dead market. If they want us to move, fine, but not down in a hole. I am a farmer and I need to sell my produce. Farmers work hard and lose a lot in this country. I think they should compensate everyone. Also, the market should be one place. They cannot scatter and separate everyone. The market must be stable too. They cannot keep wasting money to break up tarmac every time they move people. Also we want fairer terms if we move. Here on the tarmac, we are only allowed to sell one day.’

Bhuplall aka Luv
Bhuplall aka Luv
Anjanie Narine
Anjanie Narine
Chandrawattee Doodnauth
Chandrawattee Doodnauth
Boodnarine Singh
Boodnarine Singh