Assistance for Vendors Displaced from Kreta Ayer Weekend Market and Their Return after Its Renovation
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Kok Heng Leun’s inquiry regarding assistance for vendors displaced from the Kreta Ayer flea market and their potential return post-renovation. Senior Minister of State Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan explained that the market closed in July 2018 due to construction and that the Kreta Ayer Community Centre Management Committee offered financial support and alternative market referrals. Displaced vendors were also pointed toward Government-funded training programs for new skills while NEA cancelled the temporary fair permit upon the market’s closure. The Senior Minister of State noted that no new permit applications have been received, but any future submissions would be assessed by NEA on a case-by-case basis. These assessments will consider the impact on competition for nearby shops and the necessity of minimizing disamenities to residents to ensure the market's suitability for the vicinity.
Transcript
16 Mr Kok Heng Leun asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether any assistance has been provided to the vendors displaced from the Kreta Ayer weekend market; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider allowing vendors to resume their activities at the weekend market once renovations are completed.
The Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): The Kreta Ayer Flea Market was organised and operated by the Kreta Ayer Community Centre Management Committee (KA CCMC). The vendors operating at the flea market were registered with and managed by KA CCMC. KA CCMC had applied for and was issued a temporary fair permit by NEA to hold the flea market in an open public area.
In June this year, KA CCMC informed NEA that the flea market would be affected by construction works and would, therefore, cease operations from 2 July 2018. Accordingly, the temporary fair permit was cancelled. Prior to the market’s closure, we understand that KA CCMC, as the operator of the flea market, had reached out to individual vendors about a month ahead of the closure to explain the decision and address the vendors’ concerns. KA CCMC further offered financial support and referred some of them to temporary flea markets at other precincts. There are also various Government-funded training programmes for those who wish to pick up new skills and seek more stable forms of employment.
NEA has not received any new application for a trade fair permit to restart the Kreta Ayer Flea Market. NEA will assess such applications on a case by case basis, taking into consideration the potential impact on fair competition for the surrounding shops and the need to minimise disamenities to residents in the vicinity.