ANCHOVY, St James — Opposition leader Dr Peter Phillips has decried the deplorable state of the St James Municipal Corporation’s owned and operated Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, claiming that the conditions at the facility are at their worst.

“The conditions of the market could not be worst. Garbage pile up, maggots in the garbage, flies around, bathrooms not clean, mud on the ground besides the food that is going to sell to people. Ordinary Jamaican women come in trying to sell, paying their fees that they are called upon to pay, but not given the facilities for decent human existence,” bemoaned Dr Phillips, who toured the market on Saturday.

“And they (Government) tell us that we are in the age of prosperity. But in the market there is no prosperity. More sellers than buyers, people with goods that them have to carry home. Filth and disrespect.”

Dr Phillips contended that the “at least US$4.6 million below their value that the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) sold prime beachfront properties in St Ann could build two markets and leave over and put the people of Jamaica in a better condition”.

Then, in an obvious reference to the controversial $17 million welcome sign for Montego Bay, he said: “You can’t have one place with diamond and marble on the wall and another place with mud on the ground. That is not the Jamaica that we want.”

He was addressing People’s National Party (PNP) supporters during a meeting at the Anchovy High School on Saturday, where he officially presented educator, Dr Walton Small, as the party’s candidate for the St James Southern constituency in the next general elections, constitutionally due in 2021.

Dr Small will replace the seven-term member of parliament Derrick Kellier, who will not be seeking re-election.

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party’s candidate for the constituency is Councillor Homer Davis, mayor of Montego Bay.