Vendors relocated as transition from Sittwe Myoma Market to new bazaar begins

By DMG 16 Jun 2021

DMG Newsroom
16 June 2021, Sittwe

Vendors at the Sittwe Myoma Market have been relocated to a new bazaar built near the BXT port and not far from their old selling grounds, according to U Than Tun, a member of the Arakan State military council.

He said vendors hawking goods along the pathway that leads to fish mongers at the Sittwe Myoma Market have been relocated to a two-acre plot near the BXT port since June 13.

“As vendors are selling goods by making lean-to roofs on both sides of the path, buyers find it inconvenient to pass through along the path. So, they have been relocated to the land for the market, aiming to make passing through conveniently, to clean things up, and to protect from fire,” U Than Tun explained.

A total of 576 shops are slated for the new market and the June 13 contingent represented the first vendors to be relocated, with the rest to be relocated gradually, he said.

“There are also other vendors inside the market. There are shops that form a blockade. We’ll relocate these shops also. Greengrocer shops have already been relocated. The rest will relocate gradually as it is not OK to relocate all the shops all at once,” he said.

Daw Ma Chay, a greengrocer at the new market, said some of her produce has spoiled as the place she was relocated to is too far inside of the market to be seen by enough customers.

“Our goods need to be seen by buyers. As my shop is located far inside of the market, I can sell only under K10,000 now. I got between K40,000 and K50,000 before,” she said.

Ma Nwe Nwe Oo, who sells cosmetics, said there are few buyers at the new market as not all vendors have been relocated there yet.

“I got K300,000 per day from selling goods [at the former location] but now, it has been two days that I cannot sell anything. I want to sell at the old place if possible,” she said.

A woman buyer pointed out that concerns about cleanliness and convenience have arisen at the new market as well; blocked drains have caused pooling of rainwater, and there are no garbage cans or stands for motorcycles, bicycles and trishaws for buyers to utilise, she said.

Construction of the new market began in June 2020, funded in part by vendor contributions.