Protesting farmers cause chaos in Macoya

A  ROW is brewing between the management of the wholesale market at Macoya and both wholesalers and buyers alike and its stems from a change in the opening and closing hours of the market.

Earlier this week, the management of the market, run by Namdevco, changed the opening time of the facility from 7 am and from yesterday, opened for business from 3 o’clock in the afternoon. But this only served to annoy farmers and buyers. Yesterday, scores of wholesalers and buyers went to the market to offer their produce for sale and found that they were locked out. The angry business people blocked the road south of the Churchill Roosevelt Highway with their produce on trucks, vans, cars and even handcarts as a form of protest against the new opening hours.

Terry Bahal, a farmer who had a jitney-load of cassava, acted as spokesman for the protesting agricultural businessmen. He said the depot at Macoya opened its doors from 7 am, and this was very convenient to the farmers, restaurant owners, hoteliers, grocery owners and all concerned. He said the market administrators decided to carry out a survey to find out the best suited time for opening. Bahal charged that some farmers from San Juan who did not want the market to open in the morning, opted for an afternoon opening instead.. “They influenced people to agree with them and the management went along with that. “We, the real farmers, are going to continue our protest until we get management to revert to the 7 am opening time.

He said opening for business at 3 pm will be too hard on farmers. Bahal cited the heat of the day, perishing goods, and having to look out for bandits after sales, especially when it is approaching nightfall. He also referred to the heavy traffic during the afternoon which makes mobility very difficult. Bahal said the market is conveniently located and “all we want is the time to be changed.” Chief executive officer of Namdevco, Samaroo Dowlat, said much consultation took place before it was decided to open the market from 3 o’clock in the afternoon. According to Dowlat, the majority of farmers opted for the 3 pm opening. He is however prepared to have dialogue with those concerned to see what can be done in the interest of all concerned. “We are flexible and we are willing to please the farmers, because everybody has to live,” he added.