Mercado 4 Natural Remedy Vendors Resist Relocation Amidst Private Development Fears

A group of approximately eight vendors selling natural remedies, known as 'yuyeras,' at Asunción's historic Mercado 4 are fiercely opposing a potential relocation. They allege that the municipality intends to move them to facilitate private development, specifically transforming a parking area into a gastronomic complex.

The vendors, who have relied on their stalls in this iconic area for decades, emphasize that their livelihood depends on their current location. They also point out that the Paseo de los Yuyos is recognized as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Tensions have escalated as municipal authorities have begun requesting police and judicial records from the vendors, who, in turn, are demanding to see official resolutions or project approvals from the Municipal Council.

According to the vendors, private developers have offered to relocate them to a different street, but they reject this proposal, arguing that the suggested sites are outside their established customer circuit. "We depend exclusively on daily sales to bring bread to our homes. I have been working at this stall for over 20 years, and they cannot erase us just like that," one vendor stated. The eight directly affected vendors fear that this measure could eventually extend to the entire 'yuyero' community in the bustling market.

The vendors insist that the Paseo de los Yuyos is a symbol of Asunción's identity and that its arbitrary alteration violates the city's living memory. They have criticized the property owner involved in the development project for not engaging directly with them, noting that their negotiations have been solely with architects without real guarantees. The vendors are demanding direct dialogue and respect for their cultural heritage.