OCHO RIOS, St Ann –– Missing zinc from the roof and infrequent cleaning of Brown’s Town Market in this parish are a challenge for vendors and customers. But, according to Councillor Kim Brown Lawrence (Jamaica Labour Party) in whose division it falls, those problems pale in comparison to an age-old problem with the non-functioning sewerage system.

She was joined by fellow Labourite, Councillor Carlton Ricketts (Dry Harbour Division) in an urgent call for the market to be repaired.

“When they called me the other day, I stood and watched the sewage water, smelling like filth, running over the people foot. This is a place where people go to get their food,” Brown Lawrence fumed during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC).

SAMC Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Brown-Cunningham interjected, saying when she was advised of the overflow of effluent, she gave instructions for the facility to be closed.

But that did not satisfy Brown Lawrence who pointed out that, “The market was closed for two days at one point and then one day another time, but it cannot remain closed because these people has no other way to make an income. They have rent to pay and children to send to school.”

According to Brown Lawrence, the long-term solution is for the sewerage problem to be fixed, along with the other flaws that make the market unwelcoming for vendors and buyers.

“There is no cleaning of the market, it is not being maintained, and that’s why we keep having recurring problems. The drains need to be cleaned from top to bottom; and there are gutters on the side of the market with trees and grass growing out of it. The vendors have tarpaulins tied up inside the market because there are missing zincs,” Brown Lawrence pointed out.

In response the CEO admitted that there have been problems at the facility for years, listed some of the corrective measures SAMC has taken to fix them, and spoke of plans for additional work.

“The issue at Brown’s Town [Market] is a long-standing one. Early last year we spent hundreds of thousands to clear the sewage but what we have discovered is that the surface water was channelled into the sewage system so whenever there is heavy rain, it is blocked from plastic bottles and all sorts of things down in the system,” said Brown-Cunningham.

She informed Brown Lawrence that assessments are currently being done.

“The engineers are putting in a system to correct that. Because if we don’t fix the real issue, whenever it rains we are going to have a reoccurrence because this overflow has been happening in Brown’s Town for years,” she added.

In weighing in on the discussion, Ricketts described the unbearable working conditions he has observed during his visits to the market.

“There is cobweb all over in the market, and up until now there are missing zinc from Hurricane [Melissa] – and this is five months later! I can’t go into the market in peace. As the vendors see me, them calling to point out issues. The people are paying market fees and this is the treatment they are receiving,” thundered Ricketts, punctuating his comments with angry slaps to the top of the table around which the elected officials were gathered for the meeting.

“I don’t care who want to say anything or vex when I talk, but you people need to go and fix the market,” he scolded.

In response, mayor of St Ann’s Bay and head of the SAMC Michael Belnavis argued that the corporation is not intentionally dragging its feet in its efforts to refurbish hurricane damage to the parish’s markets.

According to Belnavis, the SAMC is merely awaiting the funding needed to do the work.

“St Ann Municipal Corporation has been spending a lot of money from our pockets so we have to wait on the insurance companies, which are slow. But, as soon as they pay up we will focus on the issues of the markets in the parish,” Belnavis assured.

SAMC Chief Engineering Officer Saad Campbell told the meeting that minor issues such as replacement of missing zinc at the market will be done even before the money is available to do the major renovation.

— Akera Davis

The Brown’s Town Market in St Ann (Photo: Akera Davis)