Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Guyana’s premier healthcare institution, has escalated its ongoing battle against unauthorized street vending by filing a formal legal petition with the High Court on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. The hospital seeks judicial intervention to compel Georgetown’s Town Clerk to immediately clear vendors obstructing critical access routes to the medical facility.
Through legal representation by Attorney Sase Gunraj, GPHC demands the municipal authority enforce its statutory obligations under Guyana’s Municipal and District Councils Act. The application specifically targets food, beverage, and miscellaneous vendors operating mobile trucks, carts, and temporary stalls along New Market, Middle, East, Lamaha, and Thomas Streets—all crucial perimeter roads surrounding the hospital complex.
CEO Robbie Rambarran’s supporting affidavit outlines severe operational impacts caused by the vendor congestion. Emergency vehicles, medical staff, and patients face significant access challenges due to obstructed ingress and egress points. Additionally, the hospital administration cites serious sanitation concerns, with vendors allegedly leaving substantial waste and debris across the hospital vicinity.
The court documents reveal a protracted history of failed resolutions, dating back to April 2024. Despite multiple formal communications—including letters sent on April 30, 2024, May 7, 2024, and January 5, 2026—the Mayor and City Council have not implemented permanent solutions. While municipal officials acknowledged the problem in a May 2024 response and expressed intentions for amicable resolution, no substantive action followed.
Rambarran emphasized that GPHC lacks necessary vendor particulars to initiate individual legal proceedings, making municipal intervention the only viable pathway to restore order. The hospital contends that successful court action would not only benefit medical operations but also uphold public order around one of Guyana’s most critical healthcare infrastructures.