ST ANN, Jamaica — Following a peaceful protest on Wednesday by vendors and transport operators at the Ocho Rios Transportation Centre in St Ann, the government has moved to start repair works on the facility.

The disgruntled workers who bore placards shun light on several concerns at the facility in relation to poor sanitation of the facility.

Among the concerns were: poor bathroom facilities, poor disposal of garbage, sewage water in the park and rat infestation.

They expressed their dissatisfaction with the overall state of the park despite paying fees weekly to utilise it.

However, a day later, work has begun to fix the facility.

Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie, who toured sections of the parish on Thursday, was at the facility as he met with vendors and transport operators.

The minister, who noted that his visit was previously planned and not due to the protest, said he is glad that work has started to improve the facility.

“I am here…it had nothing to do with the closing of the facility, the tour was planned before that, but I am glad that something has happened that has generated the kind of spirit especially among persons who operate in the facility,” he said.

Minister McKenzie said an estimate has been prepared for the repair works and promised that some $7 million will be provided for the project.

“The sewage system has been corrected and I am hoping that there is no recurrence of the sewage system, the general facility needs improvement, an estimate has been prepared by the municipal corporation and I’m going to be making available…some funds to commence immediate work on painting of the facility and doing some upgrade of the facility,” he said.

He also commended the vendors and operators of the park for their commitment to improve the facility.

Sharon Allen, a long time vendor, expressed her delight for the repair works.

“The park was in a bad bad situation we heart full of joy so if we never took a stand this wouldn’t happen, we the vendors locked the park on we own because we a talk and nobody nah represent we, so we affi [have to] take a stand,” she said.