Tensions flared in Georgetown’s Stabroek Market on Thursday as vendors confronted government workers erecting temporary barriers for a construction project, exposing significant communication failures in the city’s beautification initiative. The Ministry of Local Government began cordoning off sections of the market car park to construct a concrete stage, catching multiple vendors by complete surprise and triggering concerns about livelihood disruption during the critical Christmas sales period.
Several vendors reported receiving no prior notification about the temporary displacement, despite Minister Priya Manickchand having met with market stakeholders two weeks earlier. ‘I insist I am not moving from here. We were not informed by any government minister, the constable. Nobody told us anything,’ stated one vendor who had invested heavily in seasonal inventory. The situation required police presence with shotguns and handguns as a precautionary measure against potential escalation.
Minister Manickchand acknowledged the communication breakdown, stating the contractor should have engaged vendors directly and displayed advance notices before commencing work. ‘Lessons learned,’ she conceded, while simultaneously clarifying that the current administration has no intentions of permanently relocating vendors, particularly single mothers who depend on the market for income.
The Ministry’s official statement emphasized safety protocols necessitating the temporary enclosure, noting that only two vendors would be directly affected—a claim contradicted by on-site observations identifying at least six businesses facing displacement, including beverage and phone card sellers. The construction also incorporated sections of the Lodge and Guyhoc minibus parks.
Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore expressed support for the vendors and questioned the transparency of the planning process, asserting that while municipal officials were briefed about Christmas decorations, no mention was made of stage construction. The Ministry countered this narrative, maintaining that Mentore and council members had received comprehensive visual presentations and responded enthusiastically to the proposed developments.
Opposition representative Ganesh Mahipaul criticized the implementation, urging a ‘people-first’ approach that prioritizes transparent consultation and support mechanisms for affected stakeholders. The Ministry subsequently appealed against political opportunism, projecting that the completed Stabroek Square would ultimately benefit vendors, shoppers, and commuters alike through enhanced commercial opportunities and improved public space infrastructure.