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Bid to resolve market dispute in Bahrain

MANAMA, July 5, 2015

A 19-month stalemate between authorities and 25 traders, who refuse to vacate one of Bahrain’s oldest markets, could soon be resolved, according to a report.

The Muharraq Municipal Council has intervened to find another temporary location for the businesses without further delaying the BD6 million ($15.9 million) facelift to the Muharraq Central Market, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Work on upgrading the existing market was supposed to start in November 2013, but was put on hold when traders defied the eviction order.

They also demanded the same benefits as the meat, fish, fruit and vegetable vendors who were moved to a temporary marketplace at the nearby Hassan Bin Thabet Public Park and were paid BD185 a month for rent by the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry.

“They want to be treated the same way the municipality has treated the other vendors who were compensated with money and another location to continue their business,” said the council’s financial, administrative and legislative committee chairman Ghazi Al Murbati.

“What we will do now is try to provide them with a good temporary location until work on the market is completed or else it will be really difficult to convince them to move out.”

However, Muharraq Municipality acting director-general Asem Abdullatif slammed the council’s decision to intervene, saying it only made matters worse.

“Traders feel they have the power to refuse and hinder a huge project like this when they feel that councillors are supporting them,” he said.

Hope

“All I can say is that councillors should be on our side now for the sake of the people who are hoping for a new central market as soon as possible.”

Plans for the new market include a shopping complex, hypermarket and separate sections for meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, in addition to special areas for people who make traditional crafts, government offices, banks, restaurants, coffee shops, and a basement car park with 200 spaces.

The project is being handled by the Muharraq Central Market Company, a subsidiary of Tashgeel for Commercial Buildings Management, and is scheduled for completion within two years.

Abdullatif said 10 outlets in the new market have already been allocated for old suq traders.

Outlets

“The investor has provided 10 outlets for existing businesses and those who want to keep their trade in this area should start preparing their new outlets,” he explained.

“However, no one should expect that the municipality will pay them the rent or will build the shops for them because the municipality has no money for that.

“I understand that we are paying for meat and vegetable vendors but this is only because this can affect people who want to buy food from them everyday.”

He also warned that the project could be scrapped if traders continued to hinder it.

“There is an agreement between the ministry and the investor and they can pull out of the project easily if we keep delaying it,” he added.

“Also, why waste all this time when people in Muharraq need a central market.” – TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Bahrain | traders | muharraq |

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