Householders Urged to Support Vendors Inside Newly Refurbished Papine Market

Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, is urging householders to visit the newly refurbished Papine Market in St. Andrew and make purchases from vendors operating inside the facility.

“Please support the efforts of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) by shopping inside the market and not to purchase goods from vendors who are operating outside the designated vending areas.

Buying from vendors who sell on the streets or sidewalks makes it harder to maintain the clean, safe and organised environment we are building,” he said.

“We have made real progress in upgrading the Papine Market and with your support, we can continue to make it a place that vendors and shoppers are proud of. Let us work together to protect and sustain these improvements by supporting the vendors who are operating properly inside the market,” he appealed.

He was addressing Tuesday’s (April 8) monthly council meeting of the KSAMC held at the Corporation’s offices at 24 Church Street in downtown Kingston.

Mayor Swaby said that several long-standing issues relating to the improvement of the market and vendors have been resolved with the refurbishing work as well as rehabilitation of the surroundings.

“We have relocated the garbage facility to a more convenient location, preserving the market aesthetics. I believe it will also minimise the issue of illegal dumping as well as provide easier accessibility for waste collection. We embarked on a major clean-up operation of all the areas of the market, including the ceiling, and pest control measures were also administered to protect infrastructure as well as to ward off rodent infestation,” he informed.

“We also have refurbished the sanitary convenience in the market. The layout of the market was also modified to improve accessibility; vending spaces were marked accordingly, as vendors are now operating in assigned spaces. We enhanced the market appearance with fresh paint and murals by local artists,” he noted further.

Mayor Swaby said the renovation marks a significant step forward for Papine.

“These improvements are part of the ongoing commitment to creating markets that meet high standards of service, hygiene and support the modern business environment,” he said, noting that the key stakeholders have welcomed the work done.

He noted that there are still more issues to be addressed.

“Parking continues to be a challenge. We need to clear the road to ensure better access to the hospital. We will be meeting with stakeholders to explore possible options to enable us to provide more convenient parking for vendors and shoppers alike,” he said.

Mayor Swaby declared that the KSAMC has adopted a no-nonsense approach to chaos and disorder.

“We have been taking the steps necessary to ensure that vending areas are clean and safe for vendors and shoppers. Therefore, the practice of vending on the streets and on sidewalks is being discouraged. The importance of properly organised markets to our economy cannot be overstated,” he said.

He thanked all the vendors for their cooperation and support as the KSAMC continues to make improvements to markets.

“Together, we are building a better, more efficient marketplace to the benefit of all,” Mayor Swaby said.