The Housing Ministry has once again extended the deadline given to vendors at the Local and Traveler’s Market, to empty their stalls.

The deadline has been extended to January 28.

While the ministry had initially given the vendors till December 11 to empty the stalls, the deadline was extended to December 28.

The vendors have expressed concern over the decision, saying that this is ‘injustice’ against them, highlighting that this has been the means of income for some of the vendors ‘for the past 20 to 30 years’.

According to the ministry’s notice, the stalls are being emptied to be lease them to new vendors, chosen under new set procedures.

Current vendors argue that they pay their rents ‘on time,’ and accused the ministry of working to give the stalls to those close to the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

The ministry had previously said that those that have been ordered to empty the stalls ‘are those that have violated set rules and procedures’.