By Devon Evans, Gleaner WriterOCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
THE DELAY in the completion of reconstruction work on the problem-plagued Brown's Town market in St. Ann will result in at least $1.5 million in cost overruns to the St. Ann Parish Council.
This was conveyed in a letter this week to the council by Patrick Wong, chief technical director in the Ministry of Local Government.
Mr. Wong in his letter said cost overruns had been accumulating on the $29 million project since September, and that with the work now delayed until January 17, 2005, there will be further cost overruns.
Delroy Giscombe, mayor of St. Ann's Bay, announced at a press conference at Breezes Runaway Bay Hotel on Monday evening that the council had decided to allow vendors in the market to remain there until January 17 because it is not possible for the repair work to be completed in time for Christmas.
Mr. Wong's letter said, however, that while the ministry was willing to absorb the cost overruns accumulated between December and January 17, the parish council will have to pay for the additional costs incurred between September and December which amounts to $1.5 million.
But the mayor is already raising objections. He said the council was not responsible for the delays and, as such, he will not be agreeing to the council absorbing the cost.
Reconstruction work on the Brown's Town market restarted in September this year and was scheduled to be completed in time for the Christmas season. However, repeated objections from dry good vendors since October to notices for them to relocate to another premises to facilitate work on the building, including a massive street protest on Monday, finally resulted in the work being halted until next year.
Mayor Giscombe said the decision to extend the relocation date was made after talks were held with the vendors, the police, business people in Brown's Town and Member of Parliament Verna Parchment.
