An agreement has been struck between displaced vendors and Town Clerk Royston King on the occupation of spots along Bourda Street.
The vendors had been protesting a decision to relocate them to Orange Walk, following the City Council’s decision to forcefully remove them in order to proceed with the demolition of the dilapidated Bedford building.
King, after reaching an agreement with the despondent vendors, told Stabroek News that the parties agreed that the area in front of the building is not conducive to work at the moment. However, the vendors have been told that they can return to their spots within six weeks and that the city will rebuild new stalls for everyone affected by the demolition.
Some vendors have relocated to Orange Walk and were given bins, umbrellas and tables to ply their trade. The deal that was struck stipulates that the vendors have to clean the area and approximately 15 vendors signed contracts to this effect.
King said compensation would be given for the work done by the vendors in the area. They would be allowed an environment to conduct profitable business while the integrity of the drainage system would be safeguarded, he added.
However, some have not made any effort to move and were seen setting up makeshift stalls. “I ain’t moving ’cause when I move another person going to come and tek my spot,” one vendor said as she marked her territory. “I keeping my finger cross. Hammie said they ain’t bruking we stall but they bruk it,” she added.
Selywn Roseman sympathised with the vendors. “We were in the same position when they moved us. It was hard at first but it is just temporary. We all Guyanese trying to earn a living.”
Damage to business
The decision to relocate to Orange Walk, however, has led to complaints by Bourda Market stallholders.
The area along Orange Walk demarcated for use by the displaced vendors had been used by the stall holders in the market to park their vehicles, to offload goods and as a parking lot for customers.
One stall holder said that they were not consulted on the removal of their parking rights.
“Business is not on the boom and we are competing with supermarkets with parking space. They will go to the other places and would damage our business. Bourda would eventually become dead like Kitty Market,” another added.
The issue of security was raised by several of the stall holders. They related stories of several persons who were robbed just outside of the market gates and would not risk moving their vehicles to a location further that would compromise their safety.
“What the Council doing is a contradiction. They moving the vendors from one road to another road,” a stall holder pointed out.
The stall holders also don’t believe the arrangement is temporary because lights were installed for late night shopping.
The stall holders says they should be treated fairer as they are one of the higher generating revenue earners for the City Council.
Currently, the stall holders are seeking counsel from a lawyer to seek an injunction against the Mayor and City Council to prevent selling in their former parking lot.
“Council must do something for the market and look into our interest. Not only collect revenue,” a stall holder said as she demanded that the Bourda Market be upgraded. She pointed out that there is no running water in the toilets, which is unsanitary. Most importantly, she said security needs to be put in place to guarantee the safety of everyone that operates in the area.
In addition, the stall holders pointed out that the Bedford building site is to be developed by a businessman and it is still uncertain if the businessman would allow vending when his operations begin
The developer has started work to prepare the building for demolition and King reiterated that the move was temporary since the Council has plans for developing the area with a mall and properly designed stalls.
Meanwhile, an inspection of the inside of the Bedford building revealed that there were towers of educational documents dating back to the 70s and 80s. Bills of Quantity, stacks of pay sheets, curriculums and reports draped the shelves and floor of the building.
King yesterday said that he is speaking to the developer about saving documents that are useful. However, the men clearing the building were yesterday throwing the documents into piles to be discarded.
