FALMOUTH, Trelawny – Dr Patrick Harris, the member of parliament for Northern Trelawny, has promised improvements to the Falmouth market following Tuesday’s demonstration by vendors.

The sellers, still reeling from heavy rains that left sections of the market full of mud, were protesting against the poor condition of the facility.

“The market muddy-muddy and we have to just stay inna the muddy conditions like we a pig,” one vendor complained Tuesday. “You see when the cardboard box and plastic them mix up inna the dirty water, the scent is unbearable and the police dem sending you inside the hog pen weh yu have still have to pay market fee.”

In response to the vendors’ concerns, Dr Harris told the Observer that he has ordered the Trelawny Parish Council to immediately begin work to temporarily alleviate the problem.

“The mud nuisance will be aborted quickly as I have given instructions to the assistant superintendent of the Parish Council to drop a load of grit in the short-term so that the vendors and shoppers will be more comfortable,” Dr Harris said.

He added, however, that the vendors would not be allowed to sell on the streets.

“I cannot give them permission to carry out vending outside of the market as I am in full support of the of the move by the Parish Council to contain vending in the market,” the MP said.

Earlier this year the parish council, with assistance from the Falmouth police, succeeded in relocating all vendors to the Falmouth market.

A team of special constables, led by Special Inspector Samuel “Sir T” Thomas has been deployed to “Bend Down” flea market to ensure that sellers remain there.

The team focuses on the area on Wednesdays, when the popular flea market is underway, and again on week-ends.

Special Inspector Thomas, who was on hand when the demonstration was staged Tuesday, said he sympathised with the vendors but stressed that his duty was to ensure that no illegal street vending took place.

Apart from the mud when it rains and the numerous potholes, Thomas said there is also the problem of lighting that poses serious security problems in the market, especially on Saturdays.

“If light is in the market, the higglers will stay in the market and it will be easier for us to provide proper security and pay more attention to patrolling the market,” he explained. “But in a scenario where there is no light we have to divert our efforts in keeping them inside the markets, especially on Saturday nights.”

He added that he had informed the town’s mayor, Johnathan Bartley, of the problem and that he had promised to take it up with the Jamaica Public Service.