Santa Cruz market to be refurbished

Desmond McKenzie, minister of Local Government and Community Development, says funds will be made available to refurbish the Santa Cruz Market in St. Elizabeth in order to better address the needs of vendors and buyers.

McKenzie also stated that a programme that speaks to the how the market will be treated going forward, will be implemented. He explained that the programme will identify the shortcomings of the market and must have the input of all the relevant stakeholders, including vendors.

“One of the things that we have done successfully across the country is to have the vendors form themselves into associations that sit with the various municipal corporations and talk about the various issues. I am putting it to the Mayor and suggesting that this ought to be the way to go,” the Minister said.

In the meantime, Derrick Sangster, mayor of Black River, said he will be meeting with the relevant staff to formulate a plan to address some immediate concerns at the market.

“I am meeting with them to put a plan together as to what we are going to do now as immediate steps to begin to turn this thing around and bring some order back into the market,” Sangster said.

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