Opposition spokesperson on local government, community development and sports, Natalie Neita Garvey, is calling for the modernisation of markets across the island, which she described as being ‘woefully inadequate’ with poor infrastructure due to inadequate funding.

“Basically what we have seen over many years is that we really have neglected local government and the amenities which they provide. So even with our markets, as we’re standing in front of the Papine market right now, it’s very similar to what is happening with most markets across the country. Woefully inadequate in terms of funding, and therefore the infrastructure is poor. And our women, for me, are the people who use the market the most. The sanitary conveniences really leave a lot to be desired. Since I was a child till now, our markets seem to be the same, and there really needs to be a modernisation of our markets and many other amenities offered at local government,” Garvey said.

She also called for greater ventilation through the market and other spaces, allowing vendors and consumers to feel more comfortable as they conduct business.

Garvey was speaking during a tour of the Papine Market along with People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for Saint Andrew Eastern Patricia Duncan Sutherland and PNP councillor candidate for the Papine Division Darrington Ferguson.

She said the PNP will focus on the funding of local government and will provide access to better services such as garbage collection, streetlights and roads.

“There really needs to be greater ventilation through the market and spaces where people can feel comfortable and have their dignity restored. So as a government, this People’s National Party with local government as a feature will focus more on the funding of local government and ensuring that those services, garbage collection, our cemeteries, and our streetlights. Our communities are so dark right across Jamaica, and that has not been happening for many of our communities and our councillors. Our local government roads are in the worst condition I’ve ever seen them in. And I’ve been around as a politician and as a representative for the last 26 years of my life. And so there has to be a change in direction, and I believe that with the kind of focus that the PNP is planning to give to local government, we will see a better Jamaica, offering better services for the people at the local level,” Garvey said.

She also offered commendation to the party’s councillors and Mayor of Kingston and St Andrew, Andrew Swaby, whom she has been making an effort to.

“I know that he has been putting in some new sanitary conveniences across the corporate area. However, I know that he needs greater support, greater financial support. What we do get in revenue funds, there needs to be an addition to that to allow for the budget of local government to adequately manage the systems which are going to be needed to have the kind of facilities and infrastructure to have good markets, good roads, decent cemeteries so our loved ones can be buried in dignity and so that we can have better, safer communities across Jamaica,” Garvey concluded.

Meanwhile, People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for Saint Andrew Eastern Patricia Duncan Sutherland outlined that one of the biggest challenges for the Papine area is congestion and inadequate parking spaces.

“Well, in the Papine area, the biggest thing is congestion and adequate parking and proper organisation for our pedestrians. It’s a very heavily traversed area. Lots of pedestrians coming from East View and St. Andrew. We have Peter again here with us and coming from the Eastern St. Andrew area, coming into Papine as a hub, and in this hub we have the market. So the design of the market is also going to be very important. I know that our councillor, Darrington Ferguson, has been making preparations. and he and the mayor have been working with the university to look at the design, and it may have to happen in stages. The first stage is to look at the garbage collection so we can get the market facilities clean. The second stage I would think, and I’m going to lobby for, is a complete redesign of the market to make it open so fewer people have a desire to be on the outside of the market, but the outside of the market will look like the inside of the market because it will be easily accessible by the customers,” she said.

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