Prime Minister Andrew Holness has given a commitment to redevelop several markets and recreational spaces across the island .

Among the markets to be redeveloped is the Charles Gordon Market in St James.

“I bring good news for the people of St. James regarding the improvement of the Charles Gordon Market and adjoining facilities but even greater plans for the improvement of the market districts as a whole,” Holness said.

Holness was speaking during a tour of the Charles Gordon Market on Monday, January 8.

“We are going to undertake redevelopment of the Charles Gordon Market but in phases, and the first phase is as the minister of local government has pointed out, repairs to the roof. We have started to repair the structure and beams and then we will go inside the market, take out the stalls, put in new stalls, repair the surface,” the prime minister said.

He also noted rehabilitation will also be done on an adjoining informal market in the town that experiences significant flooding when it rains.

He explained that the aim is to modernise the facilities and improve pedestrian and vehicular traffic while maintaining commercial flow.

“The government is going to place a spotlight on improving markets across Jamaica. It is part of our thrust for the improvement of local communities and urban spaces. That thrust will not only be improving markets but also improving local recreational spaces such as parks. The focus on markets is primarily to improve the flow of traffic both for pedestrians and vehicular traffic in urban spaces,” Holness said.

Holness expressed that from his observation, the level of commerce that could take place in the market districts could be higher if the commercial flows were properly organised.

The prime minister said that a budgetary allocation will be made to facilitate improvements to the markets in Montego Bay and across the island.