PORTLAND, Jamaica — A brand new market in Buff Bay is set to officially open its doors in the first week of August, following the completion of a $60 million construction project funded by the Ministry of Local Government.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, visited the site and expressed satisfaction with the work done.

“In the first week of August I will be back here to officially open this brand new market. The significance of opening this market that time of independence, this was one of the markets under Jamaica 50th that was chosen to be renovated. I want to first of all commend the mayor, the CEO, and the technical team of the Portland Municipal Corporation for an excellent job,” said Minister McKenzie.

The minister praised the contractor, who also worked on the new market in Port Maria, and explained that rather than renovating the old structure, they opted to start from scratch.

“What we are seeing now is a modern state-of-the-art building here, a new building , we didn’t do any renovation as we had contemplated, we started from scratch and I am pleased of the outcome,” he said.

McKenzie also noted that arrangements are underway to accommodate vendors who sell groceries outside the market.

“There are couple vendors who fly their trade by selling groceries. I have now given instructions to commence immediately the location to facilitate those persons and I’m expecting that within the next four weeks to six weeks we would have concluded that portion of it,” he explained.

Encouraging vendors to move into the upgraded space, he added: “But I want to say that I’m hoping that after all the efforts that we have put in that the vendors will now come into this new location because it is going to offer to them something that will be the envy of many parishes in Jamaica a modern open market such as this one. This is the first of its kind that we are building that provides natural lighting and everything that comes naturally, and I am encouraging the people of Buff Bay and the adjoining communities to make use of the facility.

“But you know in local government when the municipalities do wrong, people bash them, people cuss the politicians and say they’re worthless and thing. On this occasion, I personally want to commend them because I think they have done a fantastic job. They have done a good job. They were under stress to get the job done but you know meekly wait.”

The minister also indicated the final cost will slightly exceed the initial $60 million estimate to cover additional upgrades.

“I want to commend the mayor and the superintendent and the technical team from the Ministry of Local Government. We spent close to 60 million on the project. I’m going to be spending a little more than the budgeted amount to conclude other works that needs to be done on the facility.”

Mayor of Port Antonio, Councillor Paul Thompson also addressed the event, welcoming the new development and promising stricter enforcement to ensure vendors use the facility.

“I am also a happy person this morning. It’s very, very happy to see what has happened here with the Buff Bay market,” Thompson said.

He continued “I just want to say that the hardest part of my work now is to get the vendors to come into the market and we’re going to practice a no tolerance for strangers. If it means that we are going to intensify our enforcement to get the vendor off the street.

“I am sure whenever time they come to this market they are going to say it is good to be here.”

(Video: Everard Owen)