LUCEA, Hanover — Councillor for the Lucea Division Brian “Penta” Chambers says steps are now being taken to have the section of Lucea Market which was destroyed by fire a week ago rebuilt.

But Chambers noted that the People’s National Party (PNP)-led Hanover Municipal Corporation is awaiting official communication from the Ministry of Local Government about the support it will provide for the recovery effort.

“We are still awaiting information from our ministry to see how best we can help these persons, but at the same time we are going to keep our commercial services meeting [during which] we will discuss how we will rebuild the shops and all of that, and see how best we can assist the persons who need this help,” Chambers told the
Jamaica Observer.“I heard the Member of Parliament [Tamika Davis, Hanover Western] saying that she has spoken to the minister [Desmond McKenzie]. She has not provided us with any of that information of what the minister had passed on to her. To my knowledge, we have not received any kind of communication from the minister yet,” said Chambers.“I think they [Miinistry of Local Government] are going to be sending down somebody to do an assessment so… maybe that’s the reason why they have not provided any information to us as yet because they have not done their assessment as yet. So, I guess after they do their assessment we will see what’s happening,” reasoned Chambers.

He said the parish council has taken the necessary steps to start the rehabilitation proocess while some of the vendors had insured their businesses.

“Because some of the shops are insured, the insurance company has come and done an assessment so it won’t be a long process,” said Chambers.

He said 20 of the 28 shops which were destroyed or damaged were insured.

However, the corporation is concerned that some of the shop operators – who depend on sales to send their children to school – have now been out of an income for more than one week.The councillor said information was provided to some of the operators on how they can contact the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for assistance.

An early morning fire on October 4 gutted 22 shops and damaged six others at the market.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire Davis declared that she was committed to working with the shop owners to help them rebound in a stronger position.

“I have spoken to the Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie and he, too, has already committed to ensuring that these shopkeepers and shop owners are returned to what they were before,” Davis promised.

“When we have the names and the figures we can move to the next phase — which is starting the rebuilding process,” added the MP.