Charles Gordon Market To Be Sanitised This Weekend

The Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay will be cleaned and sanitised this weekend.

Commercial Services Manager at the St. James Municipal Corporation, Pamela March, said that the exercise will commence after the market’s closure on Saturday, (March 21), and will be carried out with assistance from the St. James Fire Department.

“On Saturday, after 2:00 p.m., when we close, we will start deep cleaning and sanitisation until Monday (March 23). We will reopen the market on Tuesday morning (March 24) at 6:00 a.m.,” she said, while addressing a meeting of the Corporation’s Disaster Preparedness, Hazard Mitigation and Safety Committee on Wednesday (March 18).

She noted that a section of the facility was cleaned and sanitised last weekend.

In the meantime, Mrs. March said that the municipality will adhere to the strict 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. opening hours for markets, which take effect today.

She said assistance from the security forces will ensure that vendors vacate the grounds in and around the facility.

“Our response is to ensure that the market is clear of all vendors, [and] the police will assist us in that area,” she indicated.

For his part, Commanding Officer of the St. James Police, Superintendent Vernon Ellis, said the division will be supporting the various agencies, including the municipal authority, in their efforts to contain COVID-19.

“A lot of persons, they aren’t able to self-regulate, so the police department will be doing sensitisation and public education as well as enforcing the rules,” he said.