BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth – Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Christopher Tufton says preliminary work is underway for a $40-million complex to house shrimp vendors in Middle Quarters.

“Funding has been secured through the Tourism Enhancement Fund and we are now developing the layout and the architectural design, and work should begin early next year,” said Dr Tufton, who is also the member of parliament for the area.

“Essentially, what that will do for Middle Quarters is to create a more conducive environment for the shrimp vendors to trade their food and hopefully attract more attention”.

According to Dr Tufton, the development forms part of his plan to undertake a raft of social and economic programmes in the constituency of South West St Elizabeth.

He noted that plans were already in place for the construction of a $75-million municipal market in Black River and the construction of a fish vending complex, also in the St Elizabeth capital, at a cost of $16 million.