Traders in a Shopping Centre in Batumi could face Unemployment

The Ministry of Economics of  the  Adjara Autonomous Republic will sell a shopping centre called “ Ltd.House of Everyday Repairs and Other Services”. [the “House”] “Dombita” (another name for the House) will be taken to an auction again on August 24, 2009. The people who work as traders in the House are in an uncertain situation. They fear that when the House is sold at auction they will lose their jobs.

Paata Mikeladze, the new head of the  House, has increased the rentsof about 40 tenants. Now he demands 20 GEL for each square meter instead of 45 GEL for the whole rented space.

Traders say that they do not have so much money to pay.

Nanuli Abashidze – trader: “I knew that after having shut down the Khopi market they would come to us. Our business does not go that well. How we can pay such a high rent? My family depends on me and if they dismiss me we will die of hunger”.

Gulo Beridze – trader: “I have been working for 22 years in this place and now I find out that there is no place for me here. They set up such high rent on purpose. They make us leave job on our own before the auction is held”.

Resan Zoidze – trader: “The administration can not guarantee that we will maintain our places in the shopping centre after the auction even if we agree to pay 20 GEL for one square meter. Nobody knows anything exactly. In the end we, ordinary people suffer. Nobody tells us what will happen to us”.

Nobody commented in the Ministry of Economy of the Adjara Autonomous Republic about the future fate of merchants but they confirmed that the building one was  placed on auction but it was not sold. The auction will be held again on August 24, 2009.

Paata Mikeladze,  the new head of the House  does not comment on this issue.

Tamta Talakvadze, Batumi