OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:

The St. Ann's Bay market is being overrun by rats and roaches and both vendors and shoppers are appealing to the St. Ann Parish Council to have the matter addressed immediately.

Vendors at the market say they have repeatedly brought the matter to the attention of the council, but to date nothing has been done to remedy the situation.

According to the vendors, the situation has reached a stage where they now fear an out-break of food-borne diseases if an eradication programme is not put in place as quickly as possible.

unhealthy

Describing the situation as unhealthy, some shoppers demanded that the Health Department be made aware of the problem.

However, when contacted, Segree Blake, acting chief health inspector for St. Ann, said the Health Department was fully aware of the problem. He said it was the responsibility of the Parish Council to deal with the situation.

Mr. Blake said the department will be taking steps to eradicate the rodents by setting baits in the market but that the Parish Council needs to improve the state of the facility.

Efforts to contact commercial services manager at the Parish Council, Carol Dalling proved futile as she was said to be out of office.

- Devon Evans