ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Minister of Local Government and Development Desmond McKenzie has assured displaced vendors at the Old Harbour Market that the parish council will be examining ways to make them more comfortable in the coming weeks.

McKenzie’s assurance comes in the wake of a recent fire, which destroyed stalls in a section of the market.

“I’m almost at a loss for words because I know the challenges of vendors at this time,” he said during a tour of the market.

He added: “The fact is we have a structure here that I will admit is bad — the ventilation is poor, there’s not much protection and security for vendors but parish council has to be mindful of its responsibility as to how and where they [vendors] are now vending.”

McKenzie said he would not give a commitment on when the damaged section of the market will be rebuilt, but encouraged vendors to get organised and develop a vending committee to better address issues moving forward.

Kimberley Hibbert