NEW MARKET FOR THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRIA
The more than century-old Alexandria market in St Ann will have a new look, according to Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie.
The market, which fell into a state of disrepair, and was eventually abandoned by vendors, will be transformed into a sustainably modern produce and meat market similar to the one constructed in Buff Bay, Portland, last year. The Ministry will however, go a step further and construct a transportation centre next to it; this will help to alleviate the traffic congestion issue in the town.
“Today, I am here to break ground for the construction of this market. Melissa came and have left her mark here in Jamaica. Your government is committed… we’re starting from the ground up rebuilding, and we’re going to be rebuilding bigger, better and stronger, and that is very important,” Minister McKenzie said.
“It is a good day to be here because the last time I came here, I was disappointed. Just looking at the structure that exists tells me that something was urgently in need. There was a need for something to be done here in Alexandria…When I walked out on the street, and I spoke to a couple of the vendors, I could see they were not happy… the sidewalk was the only place that they could make a living.” Minister McKenzie lamented, while speaking at the official contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
Pointing to rehabilitative work done on the Ocho Rios Fire Station, the newly built St Ann Drop-in Centre, and other remedial work done on the Brown’s Town and Ocho Rios Markets, the Minister further highlighted the government’s commitment to its mandate of improving social services and infrastructure across the island.
“We are not just putting in a market, we are going to have adequate sanitary facilities for male and female, we are putting in a meat market, proper stalls, a small administrative office, and one of the things we started when we did the Clark’s Town market in Trelawny, was to put in a transportation centre… we’re building a modern market here in the town of Alexandria” he declared.
During his remarks, State Minister in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Delroy Williams, spoke to the importance of infrastructure development, positing that it goes hand in hand with the obligations of the Ministry to drive economic growth.
“Infrastructure development is critical to community development. It is critical to developing spaces across various parishes. It is an important factor in driving commerce and in driving the local economy. It is always important for the local government infrastructure to invest heavily in infrastructure that will enhance community life and the local economy, which is critical to the broader economy,” said the Minister.
Minister Williams reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to projects of this nature that will play a critical role in enhancing community life.
State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, and Member of Parliament for Southwestern St Ann, Hon. Zavia Mayne, expressed commendations to the councillor for the Alexandria division, Rohan Davidson, for recognising the need for the market and his continuous advocation for work to begin.
“Today is a great day, because we are breaking ground for a project that is ready to start…this is a constituency that is run by councillors… the voice in the Municipal Corporation to ensure that this project is shovel-ready and we are where we are, is councillor Rohan Davidson, and I really want to highlight him for the work and the advocacy that he has put in at the meeting at the Municipal Corporation to make sure that we are where we are today,” he said.
“Big things are on the horizon, big things are in the making, and I am sure that the people in this constituency are looking forward, not just to the market, but they are seeing a transformation of a constituency that many never imagined,” Minister Mayne added.
In closing, Minister Mayne pointed out that a development such as this is more than just a physical transformation but rather one that will bring renewed spirit and dignity to the town of Alexandria, signalling economic growth.
Construction on the market is expected to begin in a matter of weeks.