Normal business activities in the Redlight and Gobarchop Markets are said to be ongoing despite government’s push for the relocation of marketers to the newly constructed 14 Gobarchop Market in the Omega community in Paynesville.
It was reported that the Liberian government through the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), the Monrovia and Paynesville City Corporations, the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) along with the Liberia National Police was expected to relocate the marketers yesterday after the two weeks ultimatum given them elapses.
However, they have remained resolute and unbending to relocate to the most talked-about newly constructed 14 Gobarchop Market on grounds that the market cannot accommodate all of the marketers due to its capacity and other related issues.
Additionally, our reporter who visited the market scene yesterday after a scoop that government’s designated committee would have begun the relocation process of marketers observed that marketers in their numbers have again occupied the already damaged market building, while others were all seen selling along the road.
According to our reporter, despite the news which one would think could have instilled fear within them, the marketers remained adamant as they were seen going about their normal business activities with no security presence within the entire market place up to press time.
Due to the stance taken by the marketers, it has now stalled the construction work of the Coco Cola to ELWA Junction Road as well as the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
Furthermore, some marketers spoken to vowed not to relocate to the 14 Gorbachop Market until the Liberian government can ensure the upgrading of a market that will accommodate all of them as well as ensure law that will also prohibit store owners from doing retails.
According to them, the newly constructed 14 Gorbachop Market does not have facilities to accommodate everybody, noting that the sanitation issue is another reason for their callous stance to relocate to the market.
They also attributed their refusal to relocate to the market due to limited buyers, something they emphasized that would have them to encounter losses, adding, “Sometimes we don’t even make LD 1,000 or LD 2,000 a day because not too many people go to Omega to buy.”
“If the government can ensure that everyone goes to the Omega to do their purchasing as well as ensure that all stores desist from doing retail selling, then there will be no need for us coming back, and until the government can do that, we will not relocate,” the aggrieved marketers stressed.
They added, “Because there is no way a buyer would want to go to Omega to buy when in fact what they want to buy is already being sold in various stores. So let the government also look in that direction and put into place all the necessary things needed to be put into place before talking about our relocation, and until then, we are not going anywhere.”
It can be recalled, following the completion of the of the 14 Gobarchop Market, the Liberian government pleaded and began the relocation process of marketers as a means to enable Public Works smoothly carry the construction works on the Coca Cola Factory to ELWA Junction Road corridor.
As a result, the government then warned that marketers will have to blame themselves if for any reason they meet-up with excessive force from states security under the designated committee made-up of the Monrovia and Paynesville City Corporations, Public Works, Internal Affairs, Justice Ministry and LNP among others after being instructed to enforce law and order.
Since then, marketers have forever remained resolute and adamant in adhering to the Liberian government’s mandate to relocate to the 14 Gobarchop Market despite several interventions through various meetings.