Peeing problem
ST JAMES, Jamaica — A combination of urine and cleaning fluids has eaten away at almost 35 columns that hold up the roof of the heavily used Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay. The columns will need to be repaired before a new roof can be installed as part of a wider $100-million refurbishing project.
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie made the revelation on Wednesday following a tour of the market. He was “amazed”, he said, when he was told of the role urine has played in the deterioration of the market.
“The beams that have been affected, almost all of them, have been a combination of human errors where persons have been urinating against the beams. That urination, over time with the various liquids that have been used to wash the market, have contributed significantly to the decay,” he told journalists.
“Many of the columns are rotten and all of the columns will be replaced or repaired in a manner that will offer longer service and will withstand any challenges that come,” McKenzie promised.
He has been informed, he said, that it will take three months to have the columns replaced and he is hoping that deadline will be met.
“While they are doing that, the demolition of these stalls will commence and once that is done then we’ll move to the next phase of phase one — because phase one has about two or three components — which will be the roof,” McKenzie explained.
The design for the new roof has already been confirmed but its installation depends on work being completed on the supporting columns.
“It’s going to take some time. Persons will have to demonstrate some level of understanding and patience while we undertake the work,” the minister urged, adding that the funds for the $100-million project are in place.
“We have already secured the funds and we have put in the new budget year additional funds for the completion of the market,” he promised.
McKenzie used the opportunity to call on individuals to refrain from using the area while repairs are ongoing.
“The last time I was here the vendors were very vocal, raising concerns which are justified. But while they were clamouring for the repairs to be done to the market, we have now come and the repairs have been started but we are finding that a lot of them don’t want to leave out of the area while the work is taking place. There is no way that this work can be undertaken with any vendor or persons supporting vending taking place in this market,” he stressed.
“I want to urge the vendors and persons who are using the market to purchase their goods that this side of the market is out of bounds. It is under construction and God forbid if somebody comes inside here and something happen. This is what we don’t want,” McKenzie said.