2024-03-17 00:52:06
TRADE
On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the La Merced market, one of the main markets in the city, was plunged into an atmosphere of unrest and uncertainty. The reason: the arrival of machinery and municipal teachers who set out to demolish the vacant gates inside.
Chaos broke out when a group of merchants confronted the municipal authorities, denouncing a possible violation of their rights as sellers. The dissatisfaction was palpable, fueled by the lack of communication on the part of the authorities and the failure to comply with previous agreements.
María Lazo, president of the Association of Merchants of the Mariano Borja La ‘Merced’ market, was one of the most prominent voices in this dispute. He lamented the lack of consideration on the part of the authorities towards the 80 users who make up the market, pointing out that they had been promised that the demolition of the gates would take place later in the day, but the authorities arrived surprisingly early in the morning. , interrupting your sales and generating inconvenience.
On the other hand, Alejandro Ríos Granizo, director of municipal services in charge of the work, defended the action, arguing that it had been notified in advance and that those who were protesting were those who misused the empty gates. He claimed the demolition was part of a plan to improve the façade of the market and that planned refurbishment work would begin in the coming days. Despite these explanations, the merchants did not agree with what they considered arbitrary acts by the authorities. They called on the mayor to take into account his opinions and concerns, highlighting that the problem not only affected La Merced, but also other markets in the city. Amid the uncertainty and tension, it was clear that there was a deep disagreement between the authorities and the merchants, with both sides defending their interests. Meanwhile, the future of the La Merced market and its workers remained on hold, pending decisions that would affect their daily lives and economic livelihood.