By Monique Hepburn, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
VENDORS AT the Black River Market in St. Elizabeth could soon benefit from an improved facility, as plans are afoot to repair the market, which is now in a state of disrepair.
Councillor Franklyn Witter, Mayor of Black River, told The Gleaner in an interview yesterday that the St. Elizabeth Parish Council, in collaboration with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), would effect repairs. The repairs, to be done at an initial cost of $7 million, will start in August.
"We are aware of the problems being experienced at the market and we are trying from our side to keep it in a usable condition," said Mayor Witter.
"The JSIF will be coming on board with approximately $7 million to deal with the sanitary conveniences and drainage facilities," he added. "Within the next two months we expect to access the funds to start the repairs."
When The Gleaner visited the market the news team was greeted by irate vendors who complained that there were losing their customers to neigh-bouring markets in the parish. They said that customers complain that the facility is unsanitary.
Juliet Smith, a vendor in the market for more than 23 years, told The Gleaner that when it rains her produce and that of other vendors are washed away. She noted as well that the building that houses the sanitary convenience is padlocked from Monday to Wednesday. Upon investigation, the Mayor commented that Thursday to Saturday are the scheduled market days and those vendors who peddle their wares outside of those days are not entitled to use the facility.
"People go to other market because they see Black River Market as unsanitary," said Ms. Smith. "As a woman, if you are not right sometimes and you want some privacy to tidy yourself, you have to walk all the way up to the bus park or find a corner."
According to Mr. Witter the repairs to the market fall in line with the long-term plans of the South Coast Sustainable Development Programme, which includes the development of Black River as a prime tourist resort.
