Sophia, Georgetown – The main opposition, The People’s National Congress/Reform says the destruction of the vendors’ stalls around Stabroek Market under the excuse of security considerations after the recent explosion of a grenade which killed one person and injured at least nineteen others.
The speaking to the media this morning says this decision to dismantle the stalls and provoke unrest and instability was taken long before the grenade explosion. Before the explosion on Wednesday 5th January 2011, some vendors were alerted to the impending action and urged to remove their produce to avoid losses. The excuse of the grenade explosion will, therefore, fool no one.
The PNC maintains that the vendors have been struggling to make a living in a legal manner in circumstances where no jobs are available. Their right to work and earn a living is enshrined in the Guyana Constitution. Moreover, the issue of vendors selling around Stabroek Market was the subject of a Court ruling by Madam Justice Desiree Bernard when similar action was attempted before the last Cricket World Cup.
