By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
A week after HGPTV Nightly News first reported on the deplorable conditions at the Industry/Plaisance Market, fish vendors say nothing has changed, and the situation continues to worsen — threatening their health, safety, and livelihoods.
When Nightly News revisited the market on Sunday, October 26, 2025, vendors were still contending with overflowing drains, non-functioning toilets, heaps of uncollected garbage, and a complete absence of running water in the fixed stalls.
Several vendors expressed frustration, saying they are forced to fetch water from nearby residents just to wash fish and sanitize their work areas, as the facility has been without potable water for several weeks.
“We want customers to come in and buy, but look at the condition — nobody wants to step in here,” one vendor lamented.
“Everybody just passing us and going by the roadside sellers.”
The vendors described the situation as “dire, inconvenient, and embarrassing,” especially for those selling food items that require strict hygiene. Many said that the unsanitary conditions have driven customers away, resulting in mounting financial losses.
Despite these challenges, vendors are still required to pay daily stall rentals of $600 to the market clerk — a demand they describe as unreasonable given the deteriorating environment.
HGPTV Nightly News reached out to Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, for a comment, but calls went unanswered.
However, a ministry official later indicated that the matter “will be investigated.” As of this publication, no visible improvements have been made at the facility.
The vendors are now appealing to the Local Government Ministry, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) to intervene urgently and restore basic sanitary conditions before the situation escalates into a public health hazard.
“We feel forgotten,” another vendor said. “We just want the market cleaned, the drains cleared, and the water restored. We can’t keep working like this.”
