NEGRIL, Westmoreland — The planned construction of a multimillion-dollar fruit and vegetable market for Negril is back on track following a long delay marred by squabbling.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie and the Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar Bertel Moore have apparently put aside their differences, which has allowed for speedy movement on the project.

Earlier this year, McKenzie was enraged at the sight of multiple shops erected where the new market is to be constructed. He blamed the mayor’s refusal to evict squatters for holding up the project. The mayor argued that he would only ask the vendors to move after suitable arrangements were put in place to minimise disruption to their commercial activities.

On Friday, when McKenzie visited, he found that a site has been prepared for temporary relocation of 25 vendors which will pave the way for the project to move forward.

“I am well pleased and satisfied with the progress because this is the most important phase of the project,” McKenzie told the media during the visit.

The temporary relocation site, which belongs to the housing ministry, has been cleared and covered with marl in preparation for the vendors.

“I want to commend them because the mayor met with them up to as far as Tuesday of this week. Based on what is taking place we are satisfied that all systems are working and the project will start. I want to also thank the [Negril] Chamber of Commerce because they have been very, very, very supportive in their efforts for us to realise this dream of more than 20 years of building a real and genuine market,” said McKenzie.

The chamber spent $700,000 to have soil testing of the area done, part of the requirements for final approval to be granted for the project.

Mayor Moore told the Jamaica Observer that vendors are fully on board.

“Everybody is comfortable with what we are trying to do now. The notices are served and one person who is over there did not receive a notice and she called me and said, ‘Where is my notice?’ This means they are interested in what we are doing,” stated Moore.

McKenzie said the drawings for the market have been completed and approved by the municipal corporation and are with the various agencies such as the National Environmental Protection Agency, the National Works Agency and the fire department which will add their input during the final stage of planning.

In 2017, the project was expected to cost $76 million. McKenzie, who said the contract will be put to tender shortly, shied away from providing an estimate of what the project will now cost taxpayers.