A handful of vendors were this week stopped from selling outside Muneshwers Limited located at Water and Commerce Streets, Georgetown. Though this seems like a resolve for the business, the Mayor and City Council still faces issues with finding a permanent place for vendors.
Those vendors who were moved from the pavement outside the building now occupy spots along the road. On Tuesday, the News Room observed City Constables in the area overseeing activities.
Mayor Alfred Mentore said these persons are complying with the Court Order which followed a series of complaints that goes back 15 years by Muneshwers Limited.
In keeping with the Order, the Mayor and City Council was mandated to seize the goods of vendors operating around the premises of Muneshwers Limited.
“We spoke to them, they are very understanding so to speak as to what’s going on, they were able to locate some other spot in the interim so that they can operate but we will bring them into this overall meeting so they can see where we want to go,” the Mayor said.
But this is not the permanent fix. Mentore explained that the vendors are aware that there is a feasibility study ongoing to make the Stabroek Market Bazaar and the Vendors’ Arcade more spacious to facilitate them.
He also reminded that most persons have vending stalls but choose to sell at Muneshwers to get customers who frequent the store.
“Many of these vendors that you see plying in the streets also have access to or stalls in the Stabroek Market or the bazaar as well as the vendors’ mall or arcade we need to look at a long term plan to treat with those and how we can organise to get that to happen,” Mentore said.
In the meantime, the Mayor and City Council will have another meeting next week to discuss the way forward with vendors. Last week the Mayor defended the vendors noting that they deserve access to make an honest living. He also said the vendors were permitted to vend during stipulated time as long as the temporary structures are removed at the end of the day.
