PORTLAND:
CRAFT VENDORS operating out of the rear section of the Musgrave Market in Port Antonio are complaining of the market being occupied by stray cats which they say have been leaving faeces all over their goods. The craft traders note that the problem is even further compounded by a leakage in the roof and which they claim has worsened over time.
President of the Craft Vendors Association, Aban McQuennie said, in an interview with The Gleaner, that the roof at the market has been leaking for almost two years, and that complaints have been made to the Portland Parish Council but to no avail. He added that the stray cats situation posed serious health risks for traders and that there was hardly anybody available to address their concerns.
"Transparent windows were posted on the roof to provide illumination", said Mr. McQuennie. "A couple of them are now broken, and whenever it rains most of our craft work, artefacts, T-shirts and other goods are badly damaged", he said.
The President added that it is through the broken windows that the cats gained access to the craft market, leaving their mess behind. He said that craft vendors in turn have to do a thorough clean and mop-up job before business can be conducted.
The Ministry of Health confirms that cat faeces could indeed pose a health hazard and that the situation is something that should be addressed. "A person could easily contract bacterial and worm infections," one official said.
One craft vendor, Kaslyn Henry, stated that she has been at the market for a little over 18 years and has never seen the situation this bad. She said that amidst the absence of the cruise ships, along with tourists, sale of craft items were down to an all time low. She adds that "now our goods are being damaged whenever it rains and we are being exposed to danger from these cats."
"There was one instance when I decided to call the Ministry of Health to address the situation", said Miss Henry. "I arrived one morning only to find my two stalls, sections of the floor, and other stalls badly stained with mess left behind by the cats", she said.
Miss Henry added that she was so aggravated that she threatened to call in the Ministry to inform them about the unsanitary situation at the craft market, but was talked out of it by her friends.
"It is not fair to us, as we have to pay $96 per week for each stall, and some of us own as many as five stalls", she added. "No tourists are here to purchase any of our goods, and were it not for the locals, many of us would have perished".
In the meantime, Councillor Errol Stewart told The Gleaner that the Parish Council is aware of the leakage problem at the craft market, and that plans are in place to provide a complete restoration. He said that the market falls under the hospices of the Parish Council, and that through the Parish Infrastructural Development Committee (PIDC), renovation work will be carried out. He was, however, unable to say exactly when work will commence.
"We at the Council are aware of the leaks at the market, but was unaware of the litter problem caused by the cats", said Mr. Stewart. "This will have to be addressed with immediate effect, as this could pose serious health problems", he added.
