Ray Ray vendors protest plan to turn market into car park

Vendors at the gutted Ray Ray Market in downtown Kingston are protesting plans to relocate sellers and transform the open-air space into a car park and taxi bay.

The proposed overhaul was sparked by a multimillion-dollar fire on February 22 – one of many that have haunted the market district in the nation’s capital.

Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams has described Ray Ray ground as “fragile” and not a bona fide market.

Williams said that the conversion of the space into a transportation zone was logistically prudent and would ease congestion on crammed roads in the heart of the city.

“The use of flammable materials within the market space that easily spread fires is something we have to cut out, too. The vendors often use all these pallets and boards, so going forward, persons will have to use the structures that are provided,” Williams said in a Gleaner interview on the sidelines of Tuesday’s council meeting.

But a vendor who gave his name as Robert, who has been selling clothing and textile from the location for three decades, invoked a sense of betrayal at the imminent move.

According to him, vendors were facilitated at the site by late former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who was member of parliament (MP) for Kingston Western for more than 40 years. Robert said that Seaga had recognised the need for poor higglers to establish a livelihood to support their families.

“Desmond shoulda build on Mr Seaga legacy and not try fi destroy it,” he said, referring to Desmond McKenzie, the current MP and Seaga mentee.

“This a we bread and butter. How dem fi get we off? A long time we a work yah so. Dem can’t just come get we out so; dem a plan, but we a plan, too, because we nah move,” he declared.

Vendors like Robert depend heavily on market retail for subsistence, fuelling their livelihoods, including the funding of education of children and grandchildren.

Their anger has not receded even with pledges that the sellers will be accommodated at the Oxford market.

The market has been a battleground for rival gangs who for decades have jostled for ascendancy in an extortion racket that also makes victims of wholesales, shops, and transport operators.

Arsonists are suspected to be behind the Ray Ray Market fire, and the police have identified a man known as ‘Pepper’ as a person of interest.

The mayor acknowledged the need to enhance surveillance of markets to boost security and said that the installation of fire hydrants and sprinklers in vending spaces was, in the short term, unaffordable and unviable.

“It would be difficult and it would be costly, but that is something that we are looking at and that would form part of the total overhaul of protecting the market from further fires.

“Repurposing the Ray Ray Ground into a car park is also part of the measure because it would allow us to better manage the market space. We are also going to fence it, adding to the security,” Williams said.

Andria Pinnock, who has been operating in the space for more than 20 years, said she will join with others and resist the relocation plan.

“We prepare to go up to Parliament and protest if we have to, but we nah lef yah so. Dem a talk bout gang a fight fi turf. Nutten no go so. We know gang war and that nah happen yah so, somebody a sabotage we fi get we off,” she said.

Pinnock said each time fire destroy the stalls, rebuilding costs top $30,000 for every vendor.

Maxine Brown, who has been selling there for 20 years, said they are united and will not give up the space without a fight, she said the prime minister needs to get involved.

Businessman Gassan Azan, who has several investments in downtown Kingston, said he doesn’t see how the conversion of the Ray Ray Market into a car park and taxi bay would solve the traffic woes dogging the commercial district.

“For one, the space is too small, unless they are planning on building a multi-layered car park,” Azan told The Gleaner, adding that many announced plans over decades had not been realised.

ruddy.mathison@gleanerjm.com