Market vendors prepare to move
This Saturday may be the last day you will have to shop at the old Queen’s Square market as come next week the vendors who occupy the market will be moving into their new stalls. This afternoon official ceremonies opening the new Queen Square market were held at the site on West Collet Canal.
Although the new Queen Square Market was officially opened, the public will not be able to use the facility until August First. A total of twenty-eight stalls have so far been constructed and next week the vendors are expected to relocate. City Manager, Marcia Mahler says the new market was built because the old one had become too unhealthy and a traffic hazard for the general public.
Marcia Mahler, City Manager
“We decided to do a new market along with the Ministry of Housing because of the health concerns that were raised by the residents within this area. Number two because of the traffic congestion and number three because we wanted a new uniform standard with market structures within Belize City because of proper planning and zoning issues that we are trying to enforce.”
Initially when the idea of a new market was introduced not all vendors were receptive to the project. Today, Mahler says most of the vendors’ concerns have been addressed. However when we spoke with some of the people who will be most affected, it was clear that some were still troubled by what was taking place.
Marcia Mahler, City Manager
“Yes that situation has been worked out. We had a meeting yesterday, day before yesterday with the market vendors. they had some concerns because they were not listening to the right people. they were getting bits and pieces of the information from different sources, so they came to us yesterday and we resolved the issues.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What you think of the new market?”
Vendor, Queen Square Market
“I think that they built something very fast and not well equipped for the people.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You operate a very large establishment out here at the old market, so how will your business be affected?”
Alvin Hyde, Owner, Hyde’s Mini Mart
“I am the owner and manager of Hyde’s Mini Mart, this area right here and I think that with the separation, I guess that people who are in business might be out of business and people who might not be in business will be? Because most of? According to what is happening there, the stall will be much smaller than the stall right now by far. According to these politicians, when we hear about upliftment, vision, we are looking forward to increasing, not backward. We want to go forward, not backwards.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So you’re still not certain about what will be taking place next door?”
Alvin Hyde
Well that’s true.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What now will become of the old market? Well the structure will be torn down and houses will be constructed on the compound.”
Dickie Bradley, Minister of Housing
“It is my understanding Mayor Fonseca and the City Council that there will be sufficient space to allow for the relocation of the vendors from the old market. The matter is still under active review and I would love to see that, that is fact comes to fruition. If it does, we will try to put a beautiful building right where the old market is situated.”
Jacqueline Woods
“So it won’t be individual houses, because that’s the understanding that I got from the City Manager?”
Dickie Bradley
“Preferably individual houses, you know Belizean people want their own yard and they want their own things there, but it’s a question of how the planners and the architects and engineers can fit in. The is enough space for us to get about four or five good, nice houses.”
In the meantime, Mahler says those vendors who have not yet been given a stall at the market should not be concerned as there are plans to construct more stalls at the new location. The stalls are rented for one hundred and twenty five dollars a month.
