BLACK RIVER, St. Elizabeth:

More than 100 vendors are today wondering what happened to the promise of an upgraded Black River Market.

Over a month ago, councillor for the Black River division, Kern Smalling, promised that major upgrading would have started on the Black River Market.

Speaking on Television Jamaica’s current affairs programme Your Issues Live on May 31 at the Black River High School, Councillor Smalling told the audience that in three weeks’ time, upgrading work should begin.

Responding to concerns raised by Dr. Christopher Tufton, the Jamaica Labour Party’s caretaker/candidate for South West St. Elizabeth, who was a guest on the programme, about the inhumane state of the market, Councillor Smalling said: “After a number of follow-up meetings with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund, the agency had disbursed a grant of $10 million to carry out major upgrading work on the market and the work will commence in three weeks’ time.”

Work yet to get under way

However, when The Gleaner visited the facility on Thursday morning, work was yet to get under way.

Repeated attempts to get a comment from Mr. Kenroy Stewart, the council’s superintendent of roads and works, were unsuccessful.

Responding to queries, acting secretary-manager of the council, Gerald Lee, said he was aware that funds had been granted for the project but he was not in a position to say why the work had not started yet.

“I am aware that work should begin on the market, but to be honest with you, I don’t know why it is taking so long,” he said, while agreeing that the repair of the facility has been long-standing.

– Rayon Dyer