Gareth Davis Sr., Gleaner Writer

With the Portland Parish Council desperately seeking to relocate vendors housed at the Musgrave market in Port Antonio - in order to carry out repairs - conditions at that facility have worsened since the passage of Hurricane Dean.

Since the passage of the hurricane in August, which damaged the roofing at that facility, craft vendors housed at the rear section of the market have complained that their wares are being damaged whenever it rains.

Council delay

According to the vendors, the delay by the parish council in providing funds to assist with the repairs, was no help in preventing the current problem.

"The roof at the craft market section is leaking heavily, especially during torrential rainfall," said a craft vendor, who gave her name as Dorothy Moore. "Personally, I have suffered a heavy loss amounting to more than $15,000. Dozens of T-shirts bearing the portrait of Bob Marley were damaged, along with shorts and hand-made caps."

Others, including Albert Swary, Monica Thomas and Millicent Osbourne, shared similar complaints, and have indicated that they, too, have suffered heavy losses as a result of the deplorable conditions at the market.

There were also reports that the entire market was being overrun by centipedes, roaches, rats and other rodents.

Just under five years ago, the meat market section was ordered closed by the local Ministry of Health - due to insect infestation, compounded by deplorable conditions at that market facility. It was however re-opened in less than a year, but not before the parish council conducted a major clean-up and implemented a rodent eradication programme.

Despite the ongoing challenges, and with the Tourism Product Development Company pledging approximately $20 million to assist with the repairs, Port Antonio Mayor Benny White said the parish council was not only hard pressed to come up with an amount of $18 million (approximate) to assist with the repairs, but was not yet able to find a facility to which to relocate the vendors.

Since failing to secure the Boundbrook wharf facility as a possible relocation for the vendors, Acting Secretary Manager of the Portland Parish Council, Fay Neufville, has indicated that relocation is still being sought, and that they are still in the process of seeking funding to assist with the repairs.