FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Falmouth Mayor Councillor C Junior Gager on Thursday referenced the catchy campaign jingle of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) as he again vowed to purge the town’s historic Water Square of unauthorised vending.

The removal of vendors is seen as an integral step in plans to work with Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) to beautify the pedestrian-only square where a statue of legendary sprinter Usain Bolt was recently mounted.

“We now await further discussion with [then] Minister [of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia “Babsy”] Grange for us to plan the date to unveil. Once this happens, or even before it happens, it will have to be a new day in Falmouth. Therefore, I have to steal a little piece of the Opposition song and say ‘a march we a march, we a go build back wah dem mash up’. So we are going to be building back Water Square into an area that is clean; no selling — other than the few vendors that are designated,” Gager said during the regular monthly meeting of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation (TMC), which he chairs.

He stressed the need for both sides of the council to work smoothly together on the project.

“We taking the Opposition song, so we marching. So we don’t want no opposition. We’re going to walk hand-in-hand,” said the mayor.

Addressing Councillor Garth Wilkinson (PNP, Falmouth Division), Gager quipped, “They will have to tek we picture down Water Square because we want a new day to be dawned. So the beautiful fountain and the statue can enjoy its full respect.”

He stressed that the TMC will clear illegal vendors from Water Square in a bid to keep the area clean and orderly, and pointed out that the people who will be displaced may instead operate from Falmouth Transportation Centre or the market.

“We are saying to the vendors who have moved into Water Square, the transportation centre has space where you can occupy; but in Water Square will have to be just selected persons that will be selling things like snow cone or hot dogs. You don’t want to see yam or banana being sold on a stall. We won’t tolerate that; that’s for the market,” Gager told reporters following the meeting.

Just over a week ago, during a visit to the redesigned fountain inside Water Square, Grange said although the long-awaited Bolt statue had been installed, the official unveiling would not take place until the renovation of the square — now 95 per cent complete — is fully finished. The area remains cordoned off and closed to the public.

The redesigned fountain features eight spouts from which water will jet into the air. Two storyboards — one of the iconic athlete who is a native of Trelawny and the other of Water Square — are to be placed at the fountain in the pedestrianised area of the town centre.

The design of the original fountain, which dates back to 1805, has evolved over the years. The modernised version will be lit in different colours to commemorate national holidays such as Emancipation Day and Christmas Day.

Bolt, who was born in Sherwood Content in the parish, holds world records in the 100 and 200 metres, as well as the 4×100 metre relay. During his decorated career, Bolt won eight Olympic and 11 World Championships gold medals.

The long-awaited statue of Usain Bolt has been installed in Water Square, Falmouth but has not yet been officially unveiled.

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