George Henry, Gleaner WriterMalvern, St. Elizabeth:
The Black River municipal market in St. Elizabeth was once a vibrant facility where vendors and shoppers from the parish and western Jamaica went to buy food. However, that has changed significantly, particularly in recent years.
According to vendors there, some of their colleagues and customers have opted to stop selling and shop at the facility for a more favourable environment at the Santa Cruz market.
Mavernie Foster, who has been selling at the market for over ten years, told Farmers Weekly that conditions at the Black River market has become a turn-off for customers, especially when it rains. She said the facility is oftetimes flooded, forcing customers and vendors alike to play it safe as the entire compound is inundated with wter. They also complained about the bathroom facilities.
WHEN IT RAINS
"Most of the customers don't come here whenever it looks like it is going to rain. If any of them do come here they just hastily purchase what they want and try to get out of here as quickly as possible, because they do not want to encounter the water which floods out the place," lamented Mrs. Wallace, another vendor.
Mrs. Wallace pointed out that even when the rain falls customers are quick to go into the open lot to do business, as in that area the water runs off quickly and does not make them uncomfortable. This, she explained, has caused those who have remained to be losing their customers, some of whom choose to buy their produce from vendors in a nearby open lot, the Santa Cruz market or in the supermarkets.
