Dear Editor,
Too long has been the issue of ‘vendors operating around the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’ and it’s time to deal with this ‘running sore’ once and for all. The word I got from the press of recent is that the “Georgetown Town Clerk, Candace Nelson, has disclosed that the Mayor and City Council (M&C&C) has received a legal demand, ordering the removal of vendors, operating around the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) within three days, or face court proceedings.” From what I have gleaned so far is that there seems to be a lot of flouting and the matter is not coming to smooth and quick closure. This I cannot understand and with valid reasons.
First, all over the world, hospital policies and, in some cases, local regulations, explicitly mandate that vendors, contractors, and service providers do not impede emergency operations, patient care, or general hospital life. These requirements aim to ensure the safety and efficient operation of the healthcare facility. And a good government will seek to ensure that this standard be rigidly maintained. Furthermore, street vending, particularly in the vicinity of hospitals, can present complex issues related to public health, safety regulations, and the smooth flow of foot and vehicle traffic for emergency services.
I firmly reiterate that ‘street vending’, particularly when unregulated, can impede the daily operations of health institutions in several ways, primarily through traffic disruption, sanitation issues, and public health risks. Let me just elaborate on one, that is, ‘Operational Impediments.’
Editor, in terms of traffic congestion and emergency access, vendors often, and naturally too, simply congregate in crowded areas, including hospital entrances and nearby streets, to maximise customer traffic. This can obstruct the free flow of traffic, critically delaying ambulances and emergency vehicles from reaching the health facility promptly. Readers can do a literature survey and gather the real, hard facts about other domains such as health, disease, and waste management, when it comes to what is happening in Guyana and not just around the GPHC and other hospitals. I can add to this, the ‘hustle and bustle’ of taxi operators as well, and proffer reasons for ‘order’ and ‘safety’ to be enforced by the government, via the Georgetown M &CC.
I personally cannot accept what has become so culturally entrenched in this regard. As we all know “Concerns have frequently been raised about public health, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and access to critical facilities, particularly around the hospital.” So, hopefully, the Mayor and Councillors, after whatever discussions they are having, and will have, that the right and final decision will be taken.
Let’s bear in mind that the PPP/C Government in Guyana has always supported the continuation of street vending. However, this must be conducted under improved, organised, and sanitary conditions within designated areas. The government is quite ongoing too, actively working on plans to modernise markets and create specific vending spaces as part of a broader urban revitalisation strategy for Georgetown. Overall, the government is all about the need for an orderly system to maintain public health, safety, and clear access for both pedestrians and traffic. And that is why I will always be for putting an end to vending on highways and main access roads.