The Ministry of Public Works today started the clearing of the entrance to New Providence roadway on the East Bank of Demerara of roadside vendors.

A number of unoccupied stalls and structures were dismantled and removed, while food caravans and other vending structures were also removed.

Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, told News Source that the vendors were served notice and complied today with the notice. He said the Ministry assisted those who needed help to have their structures removed.

Minister Edghill said the situation could not have been allowed to continue, since it affected the safe flow of traffic.

“I would like to thank the vendors for complying with the notice that was served to them by removing themselves and those who had requested assistance from the Ministry for removal, that assistance was provided. The intent is that we have to develop that area, we have to be able to get traffic flowing in and out safely and without hinderance. And sometime, next week, I will be engaging the vendors again, they have been engaged before and a special area will be created where they could do tent vending, which means collapsible tents that should be removed at the end of the process of vending”, Edghill said.

Over the past three years, the vending situation at the Providence entrance and closer to the Qualfon company had grown out of control, with more than 50 stalls and caravans occupying the roadside.

According to the Minister, “everybody cooperated and those buildings that were unoccupied for long periods were what the Ministry dismantled, the others were removed and there was no hostility or aggression, notices were served and the people complied and thats a good thing for Guyana”.

Roadside vending across the country has become a worrying problem, with many local councils being unable to control its growth.

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