Significant Capital Investments to Upgrade Markets
By: , November 28, 2022
Photo: Michael Sloley
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie (third right), points to the unveiled sign of the upgraded Stony Hill Market in St. Andrew, at the opening on November 24. Celebrating its unveiling are (from left) Minority Leader, Kingston and St. Andrew Muncipal Corporation (KSAMC), Councillor Andrew Swaby; Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, His Worship, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams; Member of Parliament, St. Andrew West Rural, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn; Councillor, Stony Hill Division, Tosha Schwapp; Deputy Mayor, Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Winston Ennis and Chief Executive Officer, KSAMC, Robert Hill.The Full Story
The Government will be making significant capital investments to upgrade existing markets and build a new one across the island in the next financial year.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, disclosed the details during the official opening of the upgraded Stony Hill Market in St. Andrew on Thursday (November 24).
Included in the investments will be funds to rebuild the Highgate Market in St. Mary, which was destroyed by fire in July this year.
“The estimates of the design for a new market in Highgate have been completed and we are now moving to put that in motion in the new financial year,” he said.
Charles Gordon Market in St. James, which is one of the largest markets in the island, will also benefit from renovation work valued at more than $120 million.
“That work will be done over a period of time. The first set of funds to deal with the infrastructure of the market was released to the St. James Municipal Corporation about two weeks ago,” Minister McKenzie pointed out.
Other markets to receive extensive repairs include the Alexandria market in St. Ann and the Savanna-la-Mar market in Westmoreland.
Mr. McKenzie informed that repairs to be carried out at the Savanna-la-Mar market will cost approximately $85 million, of which $17 million has been “released to the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation to commence a phased work, which will include [roof] repairs”.
He lauded members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Savanna-la-Mar business community, which has contributed funds to commence the repair of the market.
“They appreciate the challenges that the vendors face. They don’t want to prevent the vendors from having a livelihood [and] instead of just enforcing law and order, they have gotten out and assist to commence the process,” the Minister said.