A recommendation has been made that several markets in the Corporate Area be closed because of “unacceptable conditions”.

This is according to Chief Public Health Inspector Grayson Hutchinson who disclosed that the recommendation was made following an inspection of the markets.

Hutchinson also reported that time was given to have improvement work done, specifically on the Cross Roads market. However, he shared that a follow-up inspection revealed that the expected upgrades were not carried out.

Hutchinson made the revelations during a meeting at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) office last Friday.

“We carried out inspections of some of the markets and the conditions were unacceptable. As a matter of fact the recommendation was in fact made for the closure of a couple of the markets,” Hutchinson said.

“We thought that it was reasonable though to give additional time to carry out the upgrading and improvement works in the market and so the time was given for work to be done at Cross Roads market and regrettably we did another assessment of Cross Roads Market and the work we would have expected to be done was not carried out and so it was our intention to further enforce the regulations,” he added.

The chief inspector stated however that newly-installed Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, has shown some commitment to improve the facilities and so he is waiting for those works to get underway before a further decision is taken on the market in Cross Roads.

“Fortunately though we observed that the new mayor would have gone to Cross Roads market and I believe there is that commitment for work to be done that will improve the market and so we await the work that is supposed to be done to improve that facility and the general environment,” Hutchinson said.