Photo by George Henry
The Spaldings Market, currently under construction.

George Henry, Gleaner Writer

SPALDINGS, Clarendon:

The Spaldings Municipal market in Clarendon has been under construction for over 16 months and there is concern that it might not be completed any time soon due to a shortage of funds and several work stoppages.

The project, which started after former Member of Parliament, Richard Azan, broke ground for its construction in February last year, should have been completed in six months but has been stopped either due to rainy weather, material or money shortage.

The construction of the new facility is being funded under the Lift Up Jamaica programme, but many persons are concerned that the programme is to end within another two to three weeks and the market is not complete.

Clarification

At a meeting held on Tuesday at the Spaldings United Church with MP for the area Michael Stern, secretary manager at the Clarendon Parish Council Adassa Morgan, representatives from Lift Up Jamaica, superintendent of Roads and Works for Clarendon, Richard O. Clarke, former MP Richard Azan and others, it came to light that though the Lift Up Jamaica programme is winding down, outstanding funds will be acquired to continue the project.

Superintendent of Roads and Works Richard Clarke told the meeting that he had visited the construction site in May and had a number of concerns.

"I visited the market in early May and I had a number of concerns about the project. From what I saw and from what I have investigated, the funds for the market are inadequate to carry the market to completion," said Clarke.

He pointed out that the estimate for the construction of the market totalled over $45 million. Of that figure, he explained that Lift Up Jamaica had committed $15 million and the Clarendon Parish Council $5 million; leaving a shortfall of over $25 million. Of the figure committed by Lift Up Jamaica, Clarke said $10.2 million had already been spent.

He also said there needed to be better control mechanisms if the project is to be completed any time soon.

Stern said the money committed under the Lift Up Jamaica programme would be spent in its entirety along with that from the Clarendon Parish Council, but efforts are being made to get additional funding to continue the work.

The MP wants the work to be restarted and speeded up so that vendors can occupy a section of the market for Christmas.

In the meantime, the superintendent for roads and works said the Parish Council would be making some changes to the design and drawings for the market.

Though he did not mention the changes to take place, he pointed out that they should be completed in one month; within which time funds being sought should arrive. He said he wanted the work to be off the ground again within two weeks.