The Georgetown City Administration executed a High Court mandate on Sunday, January 4th, 2026, forcibly removing street vendors operating outside the defunct Yhip’s Bakery at the intersection of Robb and Alexander Streets. This enforcement action has ignited intense debate regarding urban vending rights and municipal governance.
Mayor Alfred Mentore revealed preliminary strategies to relocate displaced merchants to Merriman’s Mall, situated between Orange Walk and Cummings Street. However, this proposed solution has encountered significant resistance from both vendors and political figures. The demolition of vendor stalls proceeded despite Mayor Mentore’s formal request to Town Clerk Candace Nelson for an emergency statutory meeting scheduled January 5th to establish a comprehensive vending policy and temporarily halt removals.
Vendor representatives expressed profound dissatisfaction with the relocation site, citing inadequate infrastructure including absent water facilities, electrical connections, and security concerns due to criminal elements. Approximately fourteen predominantly female vendors—many commuting from distant regions like Mahaica, Cane Grove, and Bath Settlement—now face severe economic uncertainty. They argue that selective enforcement creates unfair market advantages and demand equitable treatment for all Robb Street vendors.
Political intervention emerged through We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party leader Azruddin Mohamed and senior member Tabita Sarabo-Halley, who condemned governmental indifference toward improving Stabroek and Bourda market conditions despite Guyana’s substantial oil revenue streams. They criticized the administration’s two-year failure to develop adequate vending solutions since initial legal proceedings began.
Mayor Mentore’s budgetary proposal for 2026 includes infrastructure upgrades at Merriman’s Mall, featuring new sheds and sanitary facilities intended to accommodate approximately fifty vendors. He emphasizes eliminating unfair competitive practices through consistent enforcement across all Robb Street vending operations. The ongoing legal confrontation continues with a scheduled court appearance on January 9th, where municipal authorities intend to present their relocation commitments to the judiciary.