WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Following years of delays, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie is assuring the public that work will begin on the long-awaited Negril Fruit and Vegetable Market within three months.

“I am not here today to make any political announcements because this is no new announcement. And if this was an examination, and I was to be marked, I would get some low marks as it relates to this project because I would have made pronouncements, but this one is the last one. This project is going to be completed, and that is a commitment,” assured McKenzie.

The minister was addressing a media briefing following a private meeting he had with stakeholders — the Negril Chamber of Commerce (NCC), the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) and a team from the Local Government Ministry— on Friday. The meeting was held at the James Hunter Event Centre located at the Boardwalk Village in Negril.

The meeting was aimed at getting an update on the project and addressing various outstanding issues.

Last week Wednesday, the minister visited a nearby property that was retrofitted with sanitary facilities and lighting infrastructure for the relocation of approximately 25 vendors who are currently on the property earmarked for the construction of the market.

Technical support and funding is being provided by the ministry while the project is being executed by the WMC.

On Friday, McKenzie used the opportunity to dismiss any doubts and made it clear that the project is alive. The minister said the project will proceed accordingly as he outlined new proposals, including timelines.

According to McKenzie, the temporary location that was prepared a few months ago is ready. He said a sanitary facility, water and electricity supply are in place.

He further revealed that the fencing of the property that was put in place was damaged during the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July of 2024. Besides, there was also damage to the property’s road surface, which, he said, will be addressed.

“As soon as the estimates, which I am expecting to get by Monday, come in, the funds will be made readily available for the work to commence on the temporary cleaning and the erection of the fence and painting the bathroom. This should not take more than two weeks,” stated the minister.

“So, Mayor [of Savanna-la-Mar, Danree Delancy], I am giving instructions that you can proceed to commence those minor works for us to move to the next phase. And once we have completed that, the municipality will now, again, re-engage the vendors,” stated McKenzie, who notes that he wants the NCC to be present also during the consultation with the vendors, who will be given advance notice to relocate to the temporary site.

McKenzie noted that once the relocation to the temporary site is completed, the project will proceed to the first phase of the contract, which is being done in two phases. He said the first phase will involve the demolition of the old location.

He said that estimates have already been completed and will soon be out to tender. He added that demolition will be done once the tender is in. While that is being done, the tender for the major project, which is based will go to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), and Cabinet.

“Now, some of what I’ve said, we know what the bureaucracy is in terms of getting [through] the system. So, we will try as best as we can to expedite the process in order to get that done,” stated McKenzie.

“Now, once we have done that, there is no turning back now as to where we are going with the project,” he stressed.

It was revealed by McKenzie that Negril is the only major town in Jamaica without a market.

Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar Danree Delancy and Councillor for the Sheffield Division and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) standard-bearer for Westmoreland Western Dr Garfield James, said the project is expected to be a game- changer in Negril.

“We at the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation stand ready to do all that is in our power to ensure a smooth execution of this project,” stated Delancy, who noted that despite being short-staffed at the corporation, their technical team remains capable.

Councillor James said the minister’s visit in a little over a week shows his commitment and importance placed on the project.

Mayor Delancy and McKenzie commended the Negril Chamber of Commerce, which had provided close to a million dollars for soil testing to be carried out to the proposed construction site.

“I think they did an excellent job in keeping us, the politicians, on our toes and reminding us of the commitments that were made long before I became the Minister of Local Government and my commitment that I gave from 2016,” said McKenzie.

For her part, the President of the NCC, Elaine Allen Bradley gave the assurance that the chamber will be keeping the WMC, the councillors and McKenzie on their toes to ensure that the project is being carried out as promised.