LUCEA, Hanover — A modern market is being planned for the same spot in Lucea where the previous one was gutted by a massive fire last month.

“Basically, it is going to be state-of-the-art because we are not going to have the wooden structure anymore and we are thinking of getting on a two-floor level so that we can accommodate more vendors,” Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuels told a town hall meeting held at the Hanover Municipal Corporation’s (HMC) chamber on Tuesday.

He was responding to queries from president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce Shermaine Anderson-Gayle who wanted to know what plans are in place to have the market rebuilt.

An early morning blaze destroyed 22 board shops and partially damaged six others on October 4.

A week later, Councillor Brian Chambers (People’s National Party, Lucea Division) told the Jamaica Observer that the local authority was awaiting official word from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as to what support central government would be providing for the project.

Since then, the ministry has visited the site and done an evaluation; the corporation is now awaiting the green light.

“Estimates were done. The property was surveyed and the plan is being worked on for the reconstruction of that space. We are waiting on the plan and funding from the ministry along with what we can put forward to get it reconstructed,” stated Samuels.

Patricia Stephenson, a vendor who suffered immense losses from the fire, said she is in support of plans to construct a concrete structure.

“That will be great because the wall structure is more resistant to fire than the board which will easily catch fire,” she told the Observer as she sat under a far from adequate umbrella and kept a watchful eye on a colleague’s goods.

Stephenson, who used to sell blended juices, beverages, and household cleaning supplies among other items, lost her shop, a refrigerator and two deep freezers in the October fire. She said it has been a struggle since then.

“It is not good at all because there is no money. I have to be scraping here and there,” she told the Observer.

She now vends while exposed to the elements and complained that she has to seek shelter in nearby buildings whenever it rains.

Another vendor Teresa Douglas, who bemoaned the slow pace at which things are moving, also welcomed the Government’s plan.

“Losses were incurred so I will benefit from the arrangement if it unfolds,” said Douglas who sells herbs and natural food items.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed during the town hall meeting that HMC has spent almost $3 million during the current financial year to undertake cleaning, construction of U-drains and asphalting of the courtyard at the Lucea market.

Tuesday’s meeting was held in accordance with provisions outlined in sections 22 and 41 of the Local Governance Act of 2016.