MONTEGO BAY, St James - The St James Parish Council on Friday handed over space in the Charles Gordon market to the Area One Police to establish a police post.

The approximately 264 square feet of space is part of a complete facility, which was built at a cost of approximately $3. 2million.

Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Parish Council, Councillor Glendon Harris, said that the establishment of the police post at the market, located on Fustic Road, is part of a plan to attract more visitors to the facility.

“We need to make this, as is the case in most other jurisdictions, that the local fruits and vegetable market/food market is an attraction,” he told participants at the handing over ceremony.

Harris said that the St James Parish Council has embarked “on a concerted effort to put order into vending at the market, which has brought back some amount of civility and dignity to shopping at the facility”, adding that even tour buses have started to revisit the market.

“I invite every well-thinking citizen of the parish to come and assist us in ensuring that the Charles Gordon Market is a place of pride,” he stated, while also calling for the full support of the vendors.

Assistant Commissioner of Police in Charge of Area one, Devon Watkis, in accepting the facility, informed that a team of approximately 14 police personnel will be posted there.