$29.2M contract inked for Parika Market upgrade

The Parika Market in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) is set to receive a facelift after a $29.2 million contract was signed on Tuesday by the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development for rehabilitation works.

VALS Construction will be executing the works; a representative of the company and Permanent Secretary Prema Ramanah-Roopnarine inked the contract at the Ministry’s Fort Street Office in Georgetown.

Subject minister, Nigel Dharmlall said that the works are a part of the budgetary support by the government to enhance the infrastructure of several markets across the country and to also provide a better vending environment.

“We expect [this work] to be done in a few months so that those vendors who are terribly affected are going to be able to get back into the market better with conditions of work,” the minister said.

Public markets are essential to village economies and community development, however, the conditions of some local markets have discouraged shoppers and even the vendors who utilise the spaces to ply their trade.

With that thought at the forefront, the government initiated plans to enhance local markets since last year with funds for rehabilitative works being allocated in the emergency 2020 budget.

Meanwhile, upgrades are also slated for the Mon-Repos, East Coast Demerara; East Bank Essequibo, and Charity, Essequibo Coast markets.