Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 09, 2011 News
Following the horrific disaster at the Stabroek Market area, whereby a fragmentation grenade exploded in the ‘shopping arcade’ that accommodates unregulated vendors both day and night, the administration is cracking down with a view to regularising and removing the illegal vendors.
With one person dead and many more innocent persons injured, law enforcement authorities “swooped down on the area” and forcibly dismantled several illegal stalls. Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, had stated that the aim of such actions was to eliminate the “safe havens for criminals and their activities”.
As a result, Government seemed to be forced to take action, and therefore both Minister of Local Government, Kellawan Lall, and Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, met with city council officials to discuss the issue of “safe vending”.
Both Ministers toured central Georgetown yesterday where the vending takes place with a view to familiarising themselves and to identify the structures that needed to be removed.
Minister Benn, upon arrival at the route 42 mini-bus park area, bluntly stated that “the unsightly structures along the minibus queue cannot continue and there must be the removal of nasty erections at the park.”
He said that the purpose of the ongoing campaign of removing itinerant vendors around the mini-bus park and other areas is to “bring order and safety to citizens of the public”.
The Minister explained that there have been many cases where persons have taken the matter to court because they feel that they “have rights to the land” on which they vend. This will not deter the Government from continuing their campaign.
According to the Minister, there are laws established and functional that allow for proper vending and commercial business, which persons should adhere to.
The stipulated timeframe for this campaign is undecided. Benn said, “As long as it takes on the grounds or in the courts” the Ministries will continue to do their work.
Kaieteur News was told that “every citizen has a right to access the court if he feels that his rights have been imposed upon. However lawbreakers will run into problems”.
The Public Works Minister explained that since the campaign was initiated, there has been “a great deal of resistance in some quarters”. Government is aware that “some people here have other places to vend in markets.”
During this period, there will be an identification of places which are convenient for vending for those who have to relocate and who wish to sit “in a rational manner” with the relevant officials to discuss the issue, since Government is prepared to “work with them”.
During the tour of the streets of Georgetown, Minister Lall explained that “people are not to be selling any and everywhere” and identified a coconut vendor at the route 42 bus park who would have to be removed since his operation was an inconvenience and was clouding the passageway.
Lall told the media that “there should be someone controlling traffic in that area. The place should always be kept clear.”
He also said, “there should be a designated area under the control of the fire service and at all times the area should be secure and under control”.
When the officials arrived at the location of the tarmac at the back of the Fire Station, Stabroek, Minister Benn told the media that given the “atmosphere created here, one could buy dope, pay $100 for a cocaine ball” and as such it is necessary for Government to step in and take control before more damage is done.
He referred to a statement made by his fellow colleague, Minister Rohee, who said that the structure and the position of the itinerant vendors “allow for opportunities for illegal activities” which include disturbances both day and night, noise nuisance, pollution, illegal buying and selling of gold, snatching of cellular phones and jewellery and the rental of arms and sales of ammunition.
Benn explained that this campaign is to ensure that citizens are provided with a more conducive and safer environment regardless of the fact that they may be vendors or innocent passers-by.
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