Vendors operating in B Field, Sophia, were relocated on Wednesday to facilitate an ongoing road widening project in the area. A total of 11 vendors who previously worked between Dennis Street and Pain Lane (the 9th Corner) began the relocation process, with another 60 expected to join soon as part of the comprehensive revamp of the area.
The News Room visited the new tarmac at B Field, where vendors are being allocated upgraded facilities, including washrooms, paved walkways, and improved lighting for enhanced security. However, the transition has not been entirely smooth.
Vendors with dilapidated structures are required to rebuild on the tarmac, while those with stable stalls had theirs moved to the ground. They were assigned specific numbers and corresponding spots for their new locations.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill stated that vendors were consulted on Tuesday and expressed agreement with the relocation process. “Everybody knows exactly where they are going when they are removed,” he assured.
The minister also noted that the poor condition of some stalls contributed to delays in the relocation. “The contractor was adequately engaged. It’s going a little slow because the stalls were of such a nature that if you try to lift it, everything will collapse,” Edghill explained.
The Ministry of Public Works held discussions with vendors in various locations throughout the community, emphasizing that this practice is not new and has been implemented for road widening projects across the country. Edghill cited examples from areas such as Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, where vendors were successfully moved to tarmacs to accommodate road works.
“Wherever we are building or expanding roads and there is vending, we are trying to migrate that operation to a safe space while allowing us the area needed to complete the work,” he said.
Each allocated spot measures 10×10 feet, providing sufficient space for each stall. The minister also warned that only vendors who were actively engaged at the start of the project will be allowed to occupy spots in the new location.
