The houses on Trg Svetog Peter Cetinjsko, one of the three locations where the New Year's market is organized in Podgorica, have been installed, but the tenants do not yet know when they will start working.
They told "Vijesti" that the opening was scheduled for last night, Friday evening, but some of them state that they were indirectly asked the night before whether they agreed to postpone the start of the program further.
The Capital City did not respond to the questions of "Vijesti", which were sent on Wednesday in connection with the continuation of the organization of the New Year's market.
During the last weekend, the city administration said that, by the end of Monday, contracts will be signed with tenants for all three locations where the New Year's market is organized - Independence Square, Bećir-beg Osmanagić Square and St. Peter Cetinjsko Square. As they said then, the locations near the Clock Tower and the University of Montenegro were supposed to be put into operation on Monday.
On Independence Square, in the center of Podgorica, the program started on December 7 after being postponed due to weather conditions. The program at Trg Svetog Peter Cetinjski has not started yet.
From the company "Sanga", which was 25 on the final list of those who were allocated houses, and which was allocated a location on St. Peter's Square, they told "Vijesta" yesterday that they did not have any program agenda or decoration until almost 14 pm on Friday. on the square.
"How can we have a New Year's market without basic decorations, such as a New Year's tree," said the company.
As they added, they received the keys to the house, but as tenants, "the program for holiday activities was not designed or presented to them".
"We even designed the program ourselves and sent it via e-mail to addresses in the capital, but until today we have not received any response," they told the newsroom yesterday.
From the company "Prodchemi", which was eighteenth in the public call for houses, and which was also assigned a location on St. Peter's Square in Cetinje, they said that on December 7, when it was announced that the New Year's market would begin, they were not informed, nor invited to sign contract.
"After we went to find out about our status, they gave us a short answer that only applicants who got a position in the main town square were on the list for signing. On the same day, we sent an email to the President of the Commission, the PR Department, the Mayor's Office (Oliver Injac, prim. new). After receiving no response, we emailed again on December 10th and then another email yesterday. We have not received a reply to any email," said the company.
They also said that they still have no information on how the locations were allocated. A few days ago, the Capital City told "Vijesti" that "the commission distributes the houses, taking care that the offer is diverse and represented in all three locations."
The company "Prodchemi" said that they have other problems in communication with the City administration.
"Mrs (Ana) Medigović (Secretariat for Culture) to which we were directed to get information about the program, does not respond to our emails and inquiries," they said yesterday.
The interlocutors of "Vijesti" also told that, in preparation for the New Year's market, they had certain investments and that they are now at a loss - because of the way the locations were allocated, but also because now that the location has finally been allocated to them, they are late with the realization of the planned programs and providing services.
"Certain that, bearing in mind the ranking list, we will get a house on the main city square, and in the desire to organize everything at the level that our city deserves, we set out to procure all the necessary materials, food and drinks, reproduction, advertising and decorative materials. All this cost our company a little under 2.000 euros", they said from the company "Prodchemi".
The interlocutor from the company "Sanga" also said that due to the delay, they were forced to change the concept of the offer.
"The money we invested in advance to buy drinks, food and appliances is now practically lost... Alcoholic drinks cannot be displayed, given that they planned a children's program at this location. Food purchased with the intention of preparing it on 7.12. when the Market on Independence Square is open, it starts to spoil or is no longer fresh. Devices for preparing food and drinks are useless, because we have to change the concept of the offer", said the company.
The New Year's market in Podgorica will last until January 15. The public call for the use of the houses was published on October 30, the first ranking list was published on November 28, and after the deadline for appeals, the final list was published on December 5, two days before the opening.
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