Stabroek Market vendors could face prosecution if people they hire to remove their garbage dump it on the streets, Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore has warned.

He also warned that continued violations could eventually cost vendors their right to sell in and around the city.

Mentore issued the warning during an October 14 meeting to discuss a proposed cleanup around Stabroek Market and Russell Square, where vendors raised concerns about blocked drains, garbage collection and inadequate waste management.

During the meeting the msyor pointed to previous cleanup work around Bourda Market and Regent Street, saying the council continued to face garbage problems despite those efforts.

At Stabroek, he said, vendors had already been cautioned about giving waste to people who leave it elsewhere on the streets instead of taking it to the garbage compactor behind the market.

“We will also be naming and shaming those people, and we will also be taking those matters to court,” he warned.

He said enforcement would target both those dumping the rubbish and the vendors who supplied it. Continued breaches, he added, could ultimately result in vendors being prevented from selling in and around the city.

The meeting did not outline the legal process for imposing such a restriction.

Collection contracts under scrutiny

The mayor also acknowledged difficulties with garbage collection arrangements.

He said earlier contracts included financial penalties for contractors who failed to collect waste on scheduled days. That approach was subsequently changed, following discussions among councillors, to allow contractors time to correct missed collections before another provider was engaged.

According to the mayor, an amendment was now being prepared to reinforce collection on the designated day.

Vendors push back

Vendors at the meeting argued that they were being blamed for rubbish also discarded by shoppers, nearby businesses and other members of the public.

One vendor described pulling food boxes, bottles and other waste from drains to restore water flow and keep the vending area usable. Rising water, the vendor said, sometimes forced sellers to move beyond their designated spaces.

Others complained about rubbish being left beside bins, receptacles being moved and inconsistent collection.

The mayor said he would seek clarification from central government about arrangements for emptying bins in the area and determine whether more receptacles were needed.

He maintained that vendors must also keep drains accessible to municipal workers.

Another cleanup planned

City Hall plans to clean the Stabroek Market surroundings in phases, including roadside drains, with vendors expected to cooperate with temporary movements.

The mayor said vending spaces would be marked out to allow trading while preserving access for cleaning.

No firm start date was announced. Vendors are expected to receive advance notice.

The mayor said the exercise would require continued monitoring and maintenance, acknowledging that another cleanup alone would not resolve the problem.

Vendors speak during the October 14 M&CC meeting at Stabroek