President David Granger, today, called on the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown to hasten its efforts to prepare and provide an alternative location for the vendors, who have been removed from the Stabroek Market Square.
“I deeply regret that there has been some delay between the removal of the vendors, the cleaning up of the square and the resettlement… I would urge the City Council to hasten the resettlement and ensure that every legitimate vendor is given a place to conduct his or her business in a lawful and more sanitary manner,” President Granger was quoted as saying in a statement from his office.
The President also reportedly expressed his disappointment over the delay in resettling the vendors but said he supported the clean-up efforts. He noted that while there may have been some ‘hiccups’, he is satisfied that the vendors were consulted and informed about the move.
“Again, I’d like to urge that the City Council pay attention to the humanitarian side of the cleaning campaign and to make sure that the vendors know what is in store for them. I am satisfied that prior to the move the vendors were consulted and the only disappointment is that the City Council was not able to deliver the promises on time, but from what I can say they’re working,” the President said.
He noted that the Stabroek square is a public space and any citizen of Georgetown or any visitor must be given free access to public places, without fear.
“Over a period of years the use of that public place has degenerated and it became very unsanitary and there’s evidence that a lot of unlawful practices were conducted there. I support the work of the Mayor and City Council to rectify the public area and to put vending on a more orderly footing. This city has to be cleaned and when you look at the conditions that existed in what used to be called ‘Jurassic Park’, nobody had said that Stabroek square did not have to be cleaned up…. What I would say is let us work together with the City Council to ensure that the vendors are properly accommodated so that they can pursue their economic activities in a legitimate and orderly manner,” President Granger said.
The President said he believes and expects that Georgetown will be a healthier, more aesthetically pleasing place at the end of the process.
