PLANS to reopen Bahrain’s weekend ‘trash and treasure’ flea market have been pushed back over disagreements on available locations.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry has informed Bahrain’s three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board that negotiations were still ongoing with all government bodies to select the best venue.
The traditional open-air market in Isa Town – a favourite for bargain-hunters – was shut down by the Southern Municipality in March 2020 as part of measures to combat the spread of Covid-19.
The site has now been taken over by a Bahraini investor who is planning to expand a hypermarket, adjacent to the original steel structure.
Councillors have, meanwhile, started a blame-game over the fate of the market.
The Southern Municipal Council claims their Northern counterparts rejected Hamad Town as venue for the market citing a lack of space. The latter, however, hit back accusing Southern councillors of using the pandemic as ‘an excuse’ to shut down the original market in Isa Town.
“Eight MPs and municipal councillors representing the four Hamad Town constituencies had reached an agreement to have the market moved to our area (Hamad Town),” claimed Northern’s technical committee chairman Abdulla Al Qobaisi.
“However, officials from the Southern municipality intervened and told traders that we didn’t want them to set stalls in our area.
“We have been insisting on having the market in Hamad Town, contrary to what has been claimed by our Southern counterparts.
“The ministry also said not enough plots were available in Hamad Town for the massive project, although, we believe, land is available in the western part of the town.
“Traders want a solution because the market has been shut down for more than 30 months and the blame-game is not helping them.”
Isa Town councillor Malallah Shaheen Malallah said the market’s closure during Covid-19 was a government decision that the council endorsed – temporarily.
“We later learnt about an investor’s plan to expand and there was a suggestion that traders could move to Halat Umm Al Bayd near Sitra. However, the idea was not welcomed as the place is a no man’s land,” Mr Malallah said.
“The Southern Municipal Council also decided to opt for Hamad Town, but MPs and councillors in the town were concerned about the lack of space for parking and rest rooms.
“We then suggested smaller flea markets across Bahrain’s four governorates as a solution, but not all parties share the similar sentiments. They want a central market.”
Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry Under-Secretary for Municipal Affairs Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa in February denied that the ‘old market’ concept had been buried for good.
Shaikh Mohammed told the GDN that plans were underway to reopen the market and a few locations had been shortlisted for the purpose.
However, he refused to disclose the venues and said the ministry was waiting for approvals from other government bodies.
He said Hamad Town was a favourable option, but was not the only site in mind.
Over the years the flea market had gained notoriety as a place to buy stolen goods, exotic animals and pornography – and where food unfit for human consumption was also allegedly sold.
Despite the less favourable headlines, the place still attracted residents and tourists and remains sorely missed by its regular customers.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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