FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie has expressed grave concern over the construction of the new Falmouth market which is being funded by the Port Authority of Jamaica [PAJ] to the tune of $300 million.

“It would be remiss of me to say that there are not concerns. There are major concerns,” McKenzie said during a tour of the market last Thursday.

“First thing I am going to do, the Port Authority [of Jamaica] falls under the Office of the Prime Minister, I will engage the prime minister in some meaningful discussion, because I believe that this investment is an investment that should be made to work. What exists now is unworkable. I think the funds that were spent, we should not allow the funds to go to waste,” expressed McKenzie.

The local government minister argued the new market is located too far away from the heart of the town.

The new market will boast parking space for customers and some 370 stalls, 130 more than the 240 at the current facility.

McKenzie indicated that the current project is a variation from what was originally marketed to the council.

“My understanding of the concept, when it was sold to the parish council then, was that there would be an overall development of the area that would involve transportation centre, that would involve private, or development with commercial investment that would stimulate the kind of interest that would be required. Now, there is no plan afoot in terms of that,” McKenzie argued.

“There is no plan in the parish council for building approvals for any further expansion and development. The only thing that exists is what we are standing on now, and that is a cause for concern.”

The PAJ, which is the operator of the Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier, acquired lands, which include the parcel on which the current market sits.

However, due to the market’s close proximity to the cruise ship terminal, the PAJ committed to the construction of a new facility.

McKenzie, making it clear that while he could not use the term, “the project is stalled”, said it is not wise to do further spending until there is an understanding as to the way forward.

“Falmouth was known for the bend-down concept where haberdashery market was the life of Falmouth and that is something that is synonymous with Falmouth that you would want retained. I am not seeing where that bend-down type of concept is here. And, there is a lot that needs to be done and that is why the discussions have to take place, and I don’t think that it is wise for any further expenditure to be done on the project until there is a total sit-down and we come to an understanding as to the way forward,” stated McKenzie.

Meanwhile, during a tour of the construction site in May of this year, the head of the PAJ, Professor Gordon Shirley, had revealed that the construction of the new market was on target for completion before the end of the year.