MONTEGO BAY, St James — News that the Charles Gordon Market in St James is set to benefit from an improvement project was anxiously welcomed by the parish’s chief public health inspector, Sherika Lewis, who voiced concerns regarding the welfare of the Government facility following a recent inspection by the health team.

“We conducted an inspection of the market and I am happy to know that the municipal corporation is doing something [to improve] the situation at the market,” said Lewis.

Addressing the acting mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, during the recently held St James Municipal Corporation’s (SJMC) regular monthly meeting, the chief public health inspector queried the extent of the plans set aside for the parish’s main market.

Vernon, who had earlier told the council that the SJMC is fostering a partnership with the Japanese embassy to reduce the market’s carbon footprint, stated that this project will also seek to improve the market’s amenities.

“We have several areas that we want to improve but we are working on the solarisation first and then we’ll have the others done in phases. But it is an improvement of the market facility in general,” Vernon responded.

Immediately following this response by Vernon, the chief public health inspector accused the SJMC of ignoring previous reports sent by the public health department while citing the issues identified at the Charles Gordon Market during the health team’s most recent inspection.

“Sound good because over the years we have been doing our inspections and we are a bit flabbergasted. We [have been] doing these inspections, providing the reports and nothing is being done,” she said.

“Just to give a few highlights of the inspection that took place on March 29. The drains at the market continue to be a problem in terms of it being filled with debris and stagnant water. Based on the evidence, it is (the way) how the drains are constructed that is contributing to the stagnant water present,” Lewis stated.

The chief public health inspector continued, “There was evidence of animals in the areas, and animal faeces were also seen. Behind the gun court, there was a pile-up of garbage causing fly infestation. In the fish market, there is evidence of termites on the boards and signs of stray animals. Some of the restrooms were ill-equipped and there is also an uncovered manhole in front of the male restroom.”

However, representatives of the SJMC were curious as to why these findings were never shared with them prior to their regular monthly meeting last Thursday, though Lewis stated that the issues have been longstanding.

“Was this report submitted to the chief executive officer’s (CEO) office here,” the acting mayor questioned.

Lewis’ response of uncertainty was enough to send whispers across the room as councillors and administrators alike spoke within their circles trying to figure out if anyone has ever seen such a report.

“I’m going to check to see,” Lewis responded.

Obviously troubled by this response, Councillor Charles Sinclair (Jamaica Labour Party, Montego Bay North East Division) asked, “You don’t know if it was sent?”

“I am not sure if it was,” Lewis stated.

In the meantime, SJMC’s deputy superintendent for road and works Saad Campbell called for a “collaborative inspection” of the Government facility.

“A lot of these things fall under my remit and a few of the things that the representative for the MOH has mentioned are minor fixes, so if we could get a collaborative inspection then we could have it actioned at the same time,” Campbell said.

But Councillor Sinclair was not satisfied. Coming to the support of the deputy superintendent, Sinclair requested that checks be made to verify if the report was ever sent to the municipal corporation.

“I know the superintendent is an action man, if you sent a report that has concerns…there would be some action. I want to find out if there is some delinquency on our part or is there some delinquency on the other part,” said Sinclair.

Lewis was given the opportunity to contact members of her public health team to verify this information. Before the meeting was adjourned, the chief public health inspector told the municipal corporation that the health department’s report was never sent to the municipal corporation.