A vendor (right) waves a copy of the Daily Observer while emphasising his point to Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie (left), that vendors will not stand for “empty promises” to fix the Pearnel Charles Arcade.

The occasion was a media briefing at the arcade to announce a Cable and Wireless Jamaica (C&WJ) partnership with the KSAC to upgrade Corporate Area markets. Looking on are Errol Miller (second from left), a vice-president of C&WJ, Lewis Aitken, managing director of Tankweld Fabrication and Lincoln Evans (partially hidden), acting town clerk. Miller yesterday handed over a cheque for $10 million to the KSAC to assist in re-roofing the Pearnel Charles Arcade.

Phase one of the work will see the arcade being re-roofed over a 10- week period, beginning on March 31. The $10-million contribution from C&WJ will also assist with electrical works and upgrading the toilets in the second phase. In the third phase, stalls will be installed. The mayor said the total rehabilitation work to be done on the market will cost $21 million.