Vendors want Ray Ray Ground cleaned up for Christmas

Vendors at the Ray Ray Ground area are urging Kingston's Mayor, Andrew Swaby, to prioritise the clean-up of their space as Christmas approaches.

They expressed frustration over being neglected while other areas of the city are being tidied up for the festive season.

"Everywhere else a clean up, but not round here so. Is what happen to we? We know it name Ray Ray Ground, but people from all 'bout still come down here come buy from we," one vendor lamented. The Ray Ray Market on West Queen Street, which has endured repeated fires, also remains plagued by unsanitary conditions that vendors say are bad for business. Another vendor emphasised the urgency of their situation.

"Mi still ago work up until Christmas Day so mi want the place fi clean. People pass and spit the way how the place stink," she said.

The sentiment was echoed by others who insisted that even if the area is neglected throughout the year, now is the time for action.

"We a nuh pig so we can't comfortable with the place look like this. Even if them nuh move it any other time, a now them fi move it. Christmas a one time fi the year weh every weh bush dung and clean up," another vendor urged.

One long-standing issue involves the accumulation of old boards and other debris, which vendors say has persisted since late October and early November.

"The rubbish truck dem cannot tek up the board. It need the tipper truck or the tractor to pick them up. Each time we contact authorities about it, nobody cares and nobody nah respond," explained the vendor. She further alleged that people from outside the market contribute to the problem.

"People carry board and rubbish from all over come dump there. All who inna the market a fix stall or just have old board weh dem want get rid of," the vendor said.

Despite some cleaning efforts in other parts of the market, vendors say Ray Ray Ground has been consistently overlooked.

"No business nah gwan down there. Him leave Ray Ray Market to the mercy a God."

Up to press time, attempts to reach Swaby for a comment were unsuccessful.