President in Regent Street walkabout
Guyana Chronicle
December 21, 2003
PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo has promised to meet with City vendors and the Mayor and City Council to discuss alternative locations for the vendors during the festive season.
The President made the pledge while on a three-hour walkabout in downtown Georgetown yesterday.
Vendors and shoppers alike got the opportunity to interact with the Guyanese leader who was heartened to see the throngs of people shopping along Regent Street.
He told members of the media at the end of the tour that business owners with whom he spoke expressed their satisfaction with the pace of business. They, however, noted that there was increased competition. The President pointed out that this was a good thing since it would keep prices at a certain level.
Many vendors took the opportunity to raise their plight with the President. Some of them said that business was exceptionally slow during the year and complained that because they were prohibited from occupying prime selling spots, it has become more difficult for them to earn sufficient revenue.
As the President walked along the street, it became increasingly difficult for shoppers to negotiate the already busy thoroughfare as many wanted handshakes and posed for photographs with him.
Among the stores he visited were Payless Store, Bhena’s Footwear, Discount Store, Royal Jewel House and Avishkar’s Fashion.
Chatterpaul Seepersaud, owner of Payless Store which was destroyed by fire in July last year, took the opportunity to thank the Government for its support and contribution to him following the disaster.