THE Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is set to meet with representatives of the Constant Spring Arcade Vendors Association to discuss a possible fee increase as concerns grow over the facility’s rising and unsustainable operating costs.

The proposal was made by Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby during a consultation and reopening of refurbished bathrooms at the arcade last Friday during which he indicated that the facility has been operating at a deficit for the KSAMC due to high maintenance costs and insufficient fee payments.

The mayor explained that operating costs for the market total about $43.7 million annually while vendor fees can only generate a maximum of $16.2 million, which he said is a figure not being realised.

“If we should lock down this operation, KSAMC would have saved $31 million. That’s the truth, because we have to take money from somewhere else to keep this facility open. Can I make that $31 million in one year? No, I can’t close that gap in one year — that’s the reality — but the present fee structure can’t stand up so I’m saying to the team that we have to have a discussion where we can sit down and examine the thing. If you see we are doing something that we shouldn’t do and you consider it a waste, tell us. Let’s examine it and cut that waste out,” said Swaby.

He told the vendors that operations cannot continue as usual and that change is imminent.

“We cover salaries, we cover utilities… and what do I mean by utilities? We cover the light [electricity] where someone would have AC [air conditioning], fridge, deep freeze — that’s what we cover. We cover water; we have to truck water here sometimes twice a week, each time $25,000 per load. It covers other utilities. It covers security. It covers pest control… It covers the washroom and general clean-up. Those are the harsh realities that we have to share with you,” he said.

Swaby also pointed to high utility bills, telling vendors that the future may include them footing their electricity bills — which he said would significantly lower the cost of maintenance for the space.

“Another thing with the lighting, let me just talk about it: You can’t run light 24 hours of the day and up until 10 o’clock at night and a run up the light bill. So I’m going to talk to you frank and I’m expecting you to talk to me frank, but when all is said and done it doesn’t make sense the two of us [are in a] stand-off,” he said, again highlighting the need for a formal meeting.

Swaby added that another topic of discussion would be vendor registration, noting that — starting April 1, 2026 — sellers will be required to pay fees for all stalls owned, and to sign a legally binding contract with the municipal corporation.

“What we want at the KSAMC is to cover the costs of operating here. That’s what we want, nothing more. [We] don’t want a dollar more. Can we achieve that in one year? The answer is no, but can we reduce the gap? The answer is yes,” said the mayor.

In response, president of the vendors’ association Carlene Spencer said she would welcome an increase in vendors’ fees should one be implemented by the KSAMC, once the extra revenue is used to fund upgrades for the arcade.

“I’m okay with the increase. I welcome an increase because of changes [which have been made] because we get two brand new bathrooms,” she said on Friday.

The president said the arcade needs running water and a car park to make the vendors more comfortable, but also acknowledged that the cost of living is now much higher.

“As the mayor said, the overheads here are more than what they are collecting, and we can understand that… We were here preparing to hear [that] we are going to have to pay more. As for me, I am anticipating that. Things and time change so if we have to pay more, we pay more because we need running water, we need a parking lot,” Spencer said.

She also urged her fellow vendors to pay their rent on time.

Vendors at last Friday’s consultation and reopening of refurbished bathrooms at Constant Spring Arcade.