More delays hit new Falmouth market

WESTERN BUREAU:

The New Falmouth Market in Trelawny, which should have opened in late 2016 but has been hit by several delays, is facing yet another hold-up as the 'soft opening', which was slated for this month, has been scrapped because the facility is not yet up to the required standard.

In addition, the cost of the facility, which was initially projected to be approximately $175 million when the contract was awarded in March 2015, has ballooned to over $300 million. The facility is being built by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ).

In an interview with the Gleaner last week, Falmouth mayor, Colin Gager, who was planning for a 'soft opening' yesterday, said he was advised against it by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie and Professor Gordon Shirley, who heads the PAJ.

In fact, following a tour of the facility with Gager, Shirley and members of the media, McKenzie made it clear that he felt it would be unwise to try and open the market at this time.

"The market is a critical lynchpin for the town of Falmouth and from where I stand, you are nowhere near ready to open," McKenzie told Gager. "You need another six weeks to reach 85 per cent complete. In addition to that, I would not want you to cause any disruption of the vendors during August, which is a critical period for them in relation to back to school."

During the tour, three vendors - Sharon Walters, Carmen Plummer and Marjorie Gordon - spoke to McKenzie about various aspects of the infrastructure at the market.

"We are not happy with the size of the stalls; when it rains, we are gonna drown," said Walters, who also raised concerns about the proposed market fees. "We are now paying $500 per week, and when we get here that fee is going to be $3,000. That is totally unfair."

"The municipality will have to write to me concerning the fees. I have not received anything from them so I would not want to discuss that, but your concerns will be considered," McKenzie told him.

Following the tour, Gager told The Gleaner that he would now be looking towards a September opening for the 400-stall market.