NEW BUFF BAY MARKET NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN
Vendors and customers from Buff Bay and surrounding Communities were out in their numbers on Friday August 8, 2025, to witness the grand opening of the newly constructed Buff Market. Construction of the facility was completed just over a year after construction began.
The new state-of-the-art Market features three sections—a Fish and Meat area that can accommodate up to five vendors, 48 stalls for Fruit and Vegetable vendors and a Haberdashery area, which will accommodate up to six vendors. In addition to that, the property includes an administrative office, new restrooms and a water harvesting system to collect and store water for use within the Market.
Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Honourable Desmond McKenzie, recalled the condition of the Market when he initially visited the property, five years ago.
“This is a very special day because after years, finally we are seeing the fruits of the labour of all those persons who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this market is reopened, and this market is ready for business. I remember coming here with Minister Vaz about five years ago, when I came here the market was in operation but not looking good because first of all, there wer
e no sanitary facilities, and the state of the market was not pleasing. I gave a commitment then that we would provide the funds to undertake the repairs to the market.”
The Minister continued by announcing that additional funds will be allocated for the construction of shops to facilitate vendors who sell groceries in the Market.
“We’re going to be spending some more because additional Shops for Haberdashery business will be constructed at the rear of the market and those works will commence shortly because the additional funds of the $11M million [I think] that was requested have been signed off and will be made available,” he said.
Member of Parliament, Mr. Daryl Vaz, who was also present at the Ceremony, said that the Buff Bay Market, in the past, was a source of contention for many years despite carrying out restoration exercises on the market’s previous structure.
“This market has been the source of a lot of contention over the years. We have in the past done some refurbishing, but it has never been fully operational [and] to meet the requirements of the vendors” he said.
“I really want to say to the Minister of Local Government and to the Municipal Corporation that this is in fact a great great day for West Portland” he continued.
The Buff Bay Market, constructed at a cost of $55 Million, is the first of its kind to be constructed with fire prevention systems in place to mitigate the likelihood of the structure being engulfed. Additional investments will be made to erect some more shops and install CCTV Cameras to further secure the Market and those who use it.
