HGP Nightly News – The We Invest in Nationhood Party is raising concerns over the treatment of a long-serving vendor at the Charity Amazon market, claiming that a woman who has spent more than two decades serving the community is now being unfairly sidelined following the market’s reconstruction.
In highlighting the case, the party pointed to the experience of Leela Sookoo, a seamstress who is said to have operated at the market for over 25 years, and argued that the circumstances surrounding her relocation and reassignment raise serious questions about fairness, accessibility and livelihood.
According to the party, Sookoo’s original stall was not damaged when the Charity market was destroyed by fire three years ago. However, WIN claimed that she was later instructed to move by Minister Anand Persaud in order to facilitate reconstruction works by Builder’s Hardware.
The party said Sookoo had maintained a well-kept stall with tiled floors, but alleged that the structure was dismantled on instructions linked to the rebuilding effort. These claims have been presented by the party as part of a wider complaint about how some long-standing vendors have allegedly been treated during the redevelopment process.
WIN further claimed that Sookoo, who is recovering from recent hip surgery, had to depend on her children to move her belongings after being directed to do so by the Charity/Urasara Neighbourhood Democratic Council. According to the party, after waiting for what had been presented as an upgraded arrangement, she was allegedly assigned a stall so small that it could not properly accommodate her sewing machines, work table, fabric and movement needs, particularly given her physical condition. The party said that because of those limitations, she has not been able to move into the space.
The party also alleged that Sookoo requested permission for a back door or some form of extension to make the stall more workable, but that request was denied. According to WIN, the result is that the vendor is now being prevented from properly resuming her work and earning an income. The party framed the issue as one that goes beyond inconvenience and said it directly affects the woman’s ability to support herself through her trade.
Adding to its concerns, WIN claimed that the stall assigned to Sookoo is located next to a garbage trailer, creating what it described as an unhealthy and unsuitable environment for business. The party alleged that the stench from the waste makes it difficult for her to operate in the space, and further suggested that more desirable spots are allegedly being reserved for preferred individuals. Those are claims made by the party and have not been independently verified in the statement provided.
In raising the matter publicly, WIN has sought to cast the situation as an example of broader concerns about equity and treatment within the redeveloped market. The party argued that a woman who has reportedly dedicated decades of service to the Charity market should not be treated as an afterthought. With the allegations now in the public domain, the issue is likely to draw attention to how stall allocation decisions are being made and whether vulnerable or long-standing vendors are being adequately accommodated.
