PORTLAND, Jamaica – Investigators have ruled out arson as the cause of the May 28 fire at the historic Musgrave Market in Portland.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie made the announcement during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday morning.

“I want to say, based on the initial investigation by the Jamaica Fire Brigade and others, this was not an act of arson at the Musgrave Market, so I want to make that clear,” said McKenzie, who days ago announced that he was awaiting a detailed report from the Portland Municipal Corporation about the fire.

READ: Market, businesses ravaged by fire in Port Antonio

“The facility was badly damaged by the fire and we are now moving to requisite systems to carry out the necessary works that is required to the market.”

“We have already allocated $10 million to the Portland Municipal Corporation to undertake clean-up exercise and to provide temporary shelter for the butchers in the market who have been severely affected,” added McKenzie noting that Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern Ann-Marie Vaz has organised private funding to assist the affected vendors and to help in the restoration of the market.

However, McKenzie pointed out that the job of repairing the facility is that of his ministry and the municipal corporation.

“Any design, any costing, will be undertaken by the Ministry of Local Government and if there are private interests who want to be a part of it, we welcome that but I want to put to rest the mischief that is being made about what will happen…to the future of the Musgrave Market,” said McKenzie.

“So let me state categorically that no decision has been taken to divest the interest of the Musgrave Market to anybody. It is the property of the municipal corporation and whatever repairs are going to be done, the funding will be provided by the Ministry of Local Government,” he added.

He underscored that the market is insured and pointed that the insurers are now conducting their assessment.

Last week, the Action Ann Foundation, which is led by Vaz – a member of the governing Jamaica Labour Party — delivered compassionate grants of $100,000 each to some of the affected vendors.

READ: Musgrave Market fire victims to get $100,000 each for recovery

The foundation has dedicated $20 million from the $40 million it has raised so far to support the 200 vendors affected by the fire.

The foundation has also set a target to raise $100 million to help with the restoration of the market sparking speculation that it will have control of the facility when the repair is done.