Repairs to Begin at Coronation Market Next Week

The first phase of critical repairs to the Coronation Market, in downtown Kingston, is to begin next week, under a $30 million rehabilitation programme to be carried out by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).
Making the announcement at a joint KSAC/Inland Revenue Department press briefing, at the Corporation’s Church Street offices on August 4, Mayor of Kingston, Senator Desmond McKenzie, explained that $10 million would be spent in the first phase, and that “we hope to also spend an additional $1.5 on the Queens Market.” The repairs will cover roofing and drainage, with some funds also allocated for garbage disposal.
The Mayor said that a zero tolerance approach would be taken to vending in the Corporate Area. “We are now getting into the season where vending is going to be high on the agenda.we have back-to-school just around the corner, and after, we go right into the Christmas season,” he pointed out.
He said the problems associated with vending in Half-Way Tree are being addressed and that based on a recent meeting with the Commissioner of Police, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin and the Minister of National Security, Senator Colonel Trevor MacMillan, two major operations were undertaken in the area to deal with illegal vending.
“We are not going to bow to any pressure from anybody.we want to ensure that the same programme that we have put in place for vending in downtown Kingston over the last four Christmas seasons, that a similar programme will be put in place in Half-Way-Tree,” Senator McKenzie said.
He explained that the Council is working with the vendors in Half-Way- Tree, to create the final design for proper stalls for the area. “We are close to completing those discussions and we are hoping to unveil the new stalls in a couple of weeks. It’s just for us to work out whether or not we will be renting or selling them to the vendors,” the Mayor said.