By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
With the busy Christmas shopping season approaching, vendors at the historic Bourda Market say sales have plummeted as they struggle to operate in what they describe as “deplorable and unhealthy” conditions. Nightly News visited the location on Monday and observed several sections of the market underwater, accompanied by a pungent stench that vendors say has persisted for nearly a week.
Many stallholders told this newscast that the stagnant water has not receded, forcing them to work in conditions they believe pose serious health risks to both sellers and shoppers.
One vendor, frustrated by the prolonged flooding, said the situation requires immediate action—including mechanical pumping and proper cleaning of clogged drains, which she claims are filled with oil, garbage, and sewage.
Another vendor criticised the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, saying the authorities have not responded to their concerns despite repeated appeals. “The Mayor and the engineers need to do something,” she said. “They came around, but we never see them return.”
Several vendors also expressed fear that customers are staying away because of the overwhelming odour in the market. One stallholder, who is required to pay monthly rent, lamented that “it is not healthy for people to inhale this” and said the environment is driving customers away.
Other vendors echoed the concerns, citing spoiled goods, pests emerging from flooded drains, and the risk of contamination. Many described daily operations as a “struggle,” with one vendor noting that even packing goods has become problematic due to rodents and insects.
Some merchants said the situation worsens each time there is intense rainfall. While Minister of Local Government Priya Manickchand visited the market in November to assess existing issues, vendors claim conditions have deteriorated since then.
One stallholder described the flooding as “terrible,” noting the drains have become stagnant and foul-smelling, with water sometimes rising above knee level. Others complained that rats are emerging from flooded areas and insisted that the environment is now “very unsanitary.”
Another vendor said promises of a new market remain unfulfilled: “The President said he would build a new market—nothing. We were supposed to meet the minister, but by the time we reached, she was gone.”
Chief Citizen Alfred Mentore, in a recent video statement, acknowledged the challenges facing municipal markets and said rehabilitation efforts are underway for facilities such as Albouystown and La Penitence. He added that drainage and irrigation problems are longstanding and confirmed that Bourda Market is also slated for rehabilitation. However, he did not address the immediate crisis vendors are currently enduring.
For now, stallholders say they remain in limbo—struggling to salvage their sales amid foul-smelling stagnant water, declining customer traffic, and uncertainty about when meaningful intervention will come.
