Infrastructure works underway at new Water Street vendors site
--- Govt. to honour court compensation award
Guyana Chronicle
August 7, 2003
Infrastructure works on the new vendors arcade at the Water Street site acquired by the Government is ongoing and the process of allocation of lots concluded in the drive towards ridding the streets in the commercial areas of street vending.
This disclosure was made by the Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon, at his weekly news conference.
"The State acquired the Water Street site eventually bringing to an end the delays in the implementation of Government's plans to address the issue. The timing of the acquisition was fortuitous as the City Council was also removing the stalls of vendors off the streets in commercial Georgetown, Dr. Luncheon reported.
He added that Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday last noted the continuing episodes of the Water Street vendors and the City Council's contributions to end street vending.
He also indicated that businesses on Water Street and in other streets located in commercial areas of the city can look appreciatively at the new situation.
"The City Council has been doing its part and the administration has suggested clearly the basis of its support to the municipality," the HPS said, but emphasized that the Government in acquiring the new vending location is expecting the municipality to reciprocate by ensuring that vendors are kept off the streets.
Following the encumbering of streets in Georgetown, by vendors, particularly, along Water Street caused the Government to acquire a plot of land owned by Toolsie Persaud Limited. However, the company instituted legal proceedings and this delayed the implementation of the plan intended to begin since last year.
According to the HPS the issue of ownership is no more a contention and only the determination of compensation has to be settled, as the company is challenging the award of $264M handed down by the court.
Meanwhile, Dr. Luncheon disclosed that City Hall has been seeking investors to revive the defunct Luckhoo Swimming Pool located at Kingston, and indicated that some interest has been shown by potential investors to acquire the facility. (Chamanlall Naipaul)
