By Petulia Clarke, Staff Reporter
Vendors, whose goods were burnt in a fire which destroyed the historic Victoria Jubilee Market at West Parade, downtown Kingston, rummage through their belongings at the site yesterday. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer
HUNDREDS OF vendors lost goods valued at millions of dollars in a fire Sunday night which razed the Victoria Jubilee Market, West Parade and West Queen Street, downtown Kingston.
The vendors, who are now turning to the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) for help, say the fire, which was caused by an electrical short circuit, could have been prevented if the KSAC had properly maintained the market which is more than 100 years old.
According to the handbook, A-Z of Jamaican Heritage, by Olive Senior, the Jubilee Market occupied the site of the old Solas Market which is celebrated in the Jamaican folk song Come We Go Down A Solas Market. It is one of the oldest market sites in the city as vendors used to gather in the open space there from the 18th century.
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) of the reign of England's Queen Victoria (who ruled from 1837 to 1901), the market was built on the site of the old Solas Market in 1887. Its gates opened onto Orange and West Queen Street and Luke Lane.
MORE THAN 1,000 VENDORS AFFECTED
The angry vendors are demanding compensation for goods lost, and relocation to the nearby Queen's Arcade on West Queen Street that they said is almost empty but needed refurbishing.
More than 1,000 vendors who occupied the market where meat, agricultural produce, clothes and other dry goods were sold, and
others throughout downtown who stored their goods in the market, lost all their stock.
Reports were that up to 60 refrigerators and deep freezers were destroyed along with meat stored in the market.
The vendors estimated their losses at millions of dollars.
The police report that about 11:30 Sunday night, fire was seen at a section of the market. The fire brigade was called and five units responded. But, despite their efforts, the entire market and its contents were burned.
Some vendors wept while others said their blood pressure had risen. Others just stood in shock, staring at the rubble.
"Is a whole heap of losses," vendor Carnile Williams said. "Most people just a try a thing and this go happen, ah don't know what fi do now... How we going to move on?"
The vendors said they would go to the KSAC as soon as possible for help.
Contacted yesterday, Errol Greene, the KSAC Town Clerk, said he would try to schedule a meeting with the vendors today to assess the damage and talk about compensation.
He said that after determining the number of sellers who were actually using the market, the KSAC would make a determination on who could be helped.
The KSAC, he said, would also look at alternative space for the affected vendors, as it still would not tolerate street vending.
