A NEW STRUCTURE FOR MARKETS
The bustling town of Yallahs should have less vendors lining the roadways and filling the market since the grand re-opening of the newly renovated market in the town’s Square last Friday (March 27).
While delivering his remarks, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, expressed concerns about the number of markets across the island that were leased to private operators, thus preventing vendors from utilizing the facilities for their intended purpose.
“Today I am here to honour a commitment that was made by the government… Right across Jamaica, there are number of markets in Westmoreland, Manchester, all over, and we have started to reclaim these markets and to put them back into the hands of the Municipalities and to allow vending to take place in an orderly and a decent fashion,” he said.
His comments came after the Yallahs markets was previously bound by contract to a privately operated auto mechanic shop.
Minister McKenzie also spoke to the fact that many of the market structures across the country are more than a century-old being inherited from past colonial rulers.
“There are over 38 market across Jamaica and 96% of those markets is more than 100 years old…since 2016, while we continue to renovate markets, we are building new markets. Just a couple weeks ago, I broke ground in Alexandria in St Ann for construction of a brand-new market. Couple months ago, I opened a brand-new market in Buff Bay in Portland, [earlier], we built a brand-new market in Port Maria and at present we are reviewing a new design for the Morant Bay Market here in St Thomas,” he said as he highlighted the government’s commitment to revitalizing the markets islandwide in an effort to drive economic growth.
Over the last few years, the government has taken the decision to build or rehabilitate markets by adapting a more modern and sustainable design which promotes proper ventilation, fire prevention, more suitable market stalls, clean and reliable sanitary conveniences.
Most notably, the new design will allow individual vendors to apply for their own pre-paid electricity through the Jamaica Public Service, this will encourage an energy saving approach that will eventually ease the burden of high electricity bills on the Municipal Corporations. This move will also help to prevent the outbreak of fires caused by illegal connections.
According to the Minister, “9 out of every 10 fires in markets, can be attributed to electrical short circuit… we are in discussions with the Jamaica Public Service Company, where there is a need for the markets because administrative work must go on in the market but the same way you buy credit and put on your telephone, we have started in Buff Bay, the market in Buff Bay has a system where if the vendors want to be connected to get light, they go in and they make arrangements.”
Minister McKenzie urged the vendors and residents to comply with the guidelines set by Municipal Corporation for a smooth transition into the market.