APNU demands GY$2.7 billion govt accounting on markets, drainage

Last Updated on Sunday, 4 January 2026, 21:14 by Writer

Hours after the Georgetown city administration removed more than 12 vendors from outside Yhip’s Bakery on Robb and Alexander streets, the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) on Sunday demanded that the central government account for GY$2.7 billion that was allocated last year for market and drainage works.

“Citizens see little to no tangible improvement on the ground,” APNU member of parliament and local government spokesman, Ganesh Mahipaul said in a statement.

He called on current Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand and her predecessor Sonia Parag to “urgently provide a full public accounting” of the monies.

Though no APNU/People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) was seen at the time of the demolition and removal of the mainly female-run stalls, Mr Mahipaul promised that his parliamentary political organisation, which has 12 seats in the National Assembly, would push for the betterment of market vendors.

“APNU will continue to stand with market vendors and citizens across Georgetown and demand that government move beyond announcements and deliver real results,” he said.

The High Court order was obtained by the power-of-attorney for the property.

City Mayor Alfred Mentore said plans are being made to remove all of the estimated 50 vendors on Robb Street between Alexander and Bourda streets to Merriman’s Mall between Orange Walk and Cummings Street after new stalls are constructed and washroom facilities are installed there this year.

Relying on figures he said were extracted from the answers that Ms Parag had provided during the questions and answers of the Budget Estimates in February 2025, Mr Mahipaul demanded that the government show what happened to the several promised “meaningful upgrades” to green spaces and markets totalling GY$725 million.

He said they included GY$40 million for the design and supervision (consultancy) of the Bourda Green project, GY$260 million for phase one construction of Bourda Green, GY$50 million for rehabilitation of the East Ruimveldt Market, GY$100 million for rehabilitation of the La Penitence Municipal (Albouystown) Market, GY$75 million for construction of green space at Merriman’s Mall and GY$200 million for rehabilitation of the Stabroek Market.

In addition, significant sums were earmarked for drainage works, bringing the total to approximately $2.7 billion.

“Yet, as 2025 has come and gone, the naked eye of the population sees no substantive works completed or even visibly underway,” he said.

Mr Mahipaul said Bourda Market remains in deplorable condition, Merriman’s Mall shows no transformation, and East Ruimveldt, Albouystown, and Stabroek markets continue to suffer from poor infrastructure, sanitation challenges, and unsafe conditions for vendors and shoppers alike.

Clearly referring to recent ministerial visits across Georgetown, the APNU lawmaker said consultations, walkabouts, and announcements could not substitute for delivery.

“Budgeted money must translate into real, measurable improvements, especially when billions of dollars are involved and when these markets are the daily workplaces of ordinary Guyanese trying to earn an honest living,” he said.

APNU wants Local Government Minister Manickchand to immediately say what specific works were executed in 2025 under each line item of the $2.7 billion allocation, how much of the $2.7 billion was spent, how much remains unspent, where those funds are currently held, and which contracts were awarded, to whom, and on what dates.

APNU also wants to know the timelines for completion of each project, and why these timelines were not met in 2025, and who is being held accountable for the clear gap between budget promises and on-the-ground reality.

“At a time when the cost of living is rising and vendors continue to work in unsafe and undignified conditions, Guyanese deserve answers, transparency, and accountability,” he added.

During heavy rainfall, sections of inside Bourda Market are flooded and smelly. All the drains around that market are clogged, stink and overflowing. The public washroom facilities are mostly unavailable due to leaking sewage.

Recently, a number of the city’s outfall channels to the Demerara River were desilted.

However, most drains and trenches remain choked by silt and solid waste because they are seldom cleansed.

The central government recently constructed an open-air entertainment and recreational space outside the Stabroek Market.

New Year’s Day 2026 broke with several central government-donated waste bins in Georgetown overflowing since late December.

A lot of the waste then ended up in nearby drains to further complicate Georgetown’s drainage woes.