Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer

An argument developed between the People's National Party (PNP) caretaker/candidate the Reverend Stanley Redwood and his opposite number Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Dr. Christopher Tufton about the relocation of the Black River market on Thursday.

The rift cropped up during Television Jamaica's current affairs programme Your Issues Live after residents from Black River and surrounding areas in the parish complained about the state of the market.

"The market facility has been in a state of disrepair for more than 10 years and it seems as if there is no will on the part of the authorities to assist the people who depend on the market for a livelihood," said an irate resident, pointing to the fact that with heavy rains come puddles of dirty water in the market.

"The market should not be allowed to continue this way. The situation is so bad that it can only be likened to a pigpen," she added, her comments evoking much laughter from the forum.

Higher ground

Dr. Tufton, JLP caretaker/candidate for South West St. Elizabeth, which includes areas such as Black River, Slipe, Vineyard, Parottee and Mountainside, has proposed the market be relocated from its present location, noting that a plot of land on higher ground would serve better.

"You cannot have vendors selling their produce in that kind of condition, and I am saying that that is unacceptable. The market is where persons trade their goods for a living. We need to take their interest into consideration and act urgently in this issue that has been long outstanding," said Dr. Tufton, who is also an Opposition Senator.

But the idea to have the market relocated was ignored by the Reverend Stanley Redwood, PNP caretaker/candidate for the constituency, and PNP councillor for the Black River division, Kern Smalling.

The Rev. Redwood pointed out that following discussions with representatives of the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), some $10 million will be provided for a major refurbishing of the market, and the work is scheduled to start in two to three weeks.

"This is not an election tactic. We have committed to repairing the facility and we are going to do just that to ensure the users of the market are comfortable," said Rev. Redwood.

Other issues also surfaced at the forum including bad road conditions, lack of potable water in some communities, as well as the concern of the development of Black River as a major tourism destination.

On the question of development, a resident of Vineyard, Stephen McCogg, eloquently made a proposal that a section of the land along the Crane Road be developed and a factory be established to produce a wide variety of marketable products, including banana chips, plantain chips and mango juice.