PORTLAND, Jamaica— Residents in Portland will now have access to a new Buff Bay market in Portland following its official opening on Friday, a $60 million construction project funded by the Ministry of Local Government.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie was present to cut the ribbon for the opening of the market on Friday along with Member of Parliament for Portland Western Daryl Vaz, Councillor for the Buff Bay Division Dionne Hunter and acting chief executive officer of the Portland Municipal Corporation Jumaane Robinson.

A brand new sign was also unveiled for the market.

“After years, finally we are seeing the fruits of the labour of all those persons who have worked tirelessly to ensure that this market is reopened. This market is ready for business. I remember coming here with Minister Vaz about five years ago. When I came here the market was in operation but not looking good. Because first of all there was no sanitary facilities and the state of the market was not pleasing. I gave a commitment then that we would provide funds to undertake the repairs to the market. But when we started, we recognised that it makes no sense to put kola champagne in a jeyes bottle because it makes no sense. So it never makes sense you tear off the label, off the bottle, put on a new label, but the inside still remains the same,” Mckenzie said, declaring the facility open for business.

McKenzie noted that the Buff Bay Market is a brand new market built from the ground up.

“It’s a brand new market built from the ground up. So there is nothing more that has been painted over, you have a new market. The $55 million that have been spent will be spent with some more because additional shops for haberdashery business will be constructed at the rear of the market. And those works will commence shortly because the additional funds of the $11 million I think that was requested have been signed off and will be made available. So we’re looking at close to $70 million that will be spent on this new look of Bay Market,” he said.

The local government minister noted that security cameras will also be installed in the market.

(Video: Everard Owen)