Frustrated with the opposition-controlled Georgetown Mayor and City Council’s management of city markets, President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the central government have stepped in to tackle several concerns raised by vendors and shoppers.
One week after his visit to the Stabroek Market, President Ali made an early morning visit to Bourda Market on Wednesday, engaging directly with vendors before dawn. The key issues highlighted were security concerns and the City Council’s failure to police the area adequately.
Vendors reported being targeted by motorcycle bandits and criticized the lack of action by security forces when incidents were reported. In response, President Ali announced plans to request the Guyana Police Force establish an outpost at the market, which will be linked to nearby surveillance cameras for continuous monitoring.
“I want the police to come here later today for a comprehensive security outreach. We are considering setting up a major outpost to support the market and connect the cameras to screens,” Dr. Ali stated.
Accompanying the President were the Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Anand Persaud and City Councillors from the governing PPP/C. President Ali expressed dissatisfaction with the City Council’s performance, accusing them of neglecting their duties, including security and waste management.
“The City Council is not fulfilling its responsibilities. They are collecting money but failing to provide security and manage waste effectively. We will address these issues ourselves,” Dr. Ali asserted.
In addition to enhancing security, the President committed to significant upgrades for the market. These improvements include constructing a new tarmac and a large shed to house the stalls. “Anand and Parag will conduct consultations in the market to explore options for development, similar to the upgrades seen in Parika,” Dr. Ali added.
The central government, Dr. ali said, will also address solid waste management issues to ensure a cleaner and more efficient market environment.
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