PORTLAND, Jamaica— The Musgrave Market in Port Antonio Portland, will be the first market in Jamaica to be constructed with fire safety equipment as construction gets underway, says Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie.

He was speaking at a town hall meeting at the Errol Flynn Marina in the parish Thursday evening when he made the announcement.

“The Musgrave Market, the drawings are completed. That market will become the first market that we are going to be building in Jamaica that is equipped with the latest necessary facilities to prevent fire,” McKenzie said, to much applause from residents attending the meeting.

He urged the vendors in the parish to utilise the market, adding that it would be a disservice considering the amount of money being used for the construction, should they choose to sell on the street.

A report earlier this year disclosed that approximately $18 million has been allocated for the first phase of construction of the market.

“We are literally building a new market from scratch because the old building was torn down, we are building from the ground up. Again, we can’t be spending this amount of money putting in these facilities and yet the vendors find it more prudent to be vending on the street,” the minister said.

“I have said to the mayor as it relates to the Musgrave market and I am saying the same thing for the Buff Bay market to engage the vendors from now because trust me, I will come here myself to enforce public order so the vendors understand that the market is repaired at their cost— your tax dollar,” McKenzie continued.

Last May, residents of Port Antonio were awakened by shouts of fire as a blaze, which started in the Musgrave Market, spread to the adjacent buildings which housed Blue Diamond Jewellery, and Kamal’s Supermarket and Cambio.

READ: Market, businesses ravaged by fire in Port Antonio

The fire started about 8:30 am in the market, reducing to ashes several items including shoes, clothing, household articles and farm produce.

As word spread of the fire, some vendors were able to save a portion of their goods stored in the market as they rolled out barrels even those which were water damaged.

Since the blaze, a number of corporate entities have pledged support to the tune of millions of dollars to aid in the rebuilding of the market.