MARABELLA vendors yesterday expressed concern over their planned relocation to a new temporary market, saying the facility was too small to accommodate all of them.

And yesterday's planned meeting between vendors and chief executive officer of the San Fernando City Corporation Deodath Ragoobar ended in chaos.

President of the Marabella Vendors Association Vishnu Pancham, said too many vendors were trying to speak with Ragoobar at the same time.

Several vendors had gathered at the old market facility—a cluster of wooden sheds with rusting roofs, at Market Street in Marabella—expecting a meeting with the association.

But Pancham said they were misinformed, since the meeting was supposed to be between the association members and officials from the corporation.

Pancham said another meeting will be scheduled for next week at San Fernando City Hall.

The official opening of the newly-constructed temporary market is expected to take place next Wednesday.

However, vendors said the stalls were too small for the amount of goods they stocked.

 Pancham said the place was "plenty too small to hold the vendors".

There are about 300 vendors who use the old facility.

He said: "We have no problem with the infrastructure. Everybody is happy with it.

"We used to get wet over here in the old market, now we will be properly covered.

"I really don't know how they are going to accommodate all the vendors because on a Sunday, people are selling two miles on the road."

Joyce Debiram, who has been a market vendor for the past 34 years, said: "We want to move.

"We don't mind moving because they will need the space to build the new market but the space is way too small. We cannot service on that because of the expense of the whole sales system."

She said she was also concerned that preference would be given to full-time vendors and weekend vendors would not be treated fairly.

Attempts to get in contact with Ragoobar yesterday were unsuccessful.