Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government, Community Development and Sports, Natalie Neita Garvey, is calling for an immediate plan to improve safety in the country’s markets.

Garvey made the demand as she outlined her concernes about the frequency of fires in public food and dry goods markets.

In a statement today (January 12), Neita Garvey said the situation with fires had reached crisis proportions.

Consequently, she said, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and all municipal corporations need to devise an urgent action plan and response mechanism to prevent fires and mitigate the huge losses to the state and vendors.

“It is the Government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of vendors and shoppers in all markets and it must exercise its duty of care without delay,” she said.

The Opposition Spokesperson said Monday’s (January 9) fire at the ‘Ray-Ray’ market was the fourth since 2019 and yet there was no evidence that the ministry had caused a comprehensive examination of the infrastructure, electric wiring and fire prevention systems.

In addition, she said, there have been three fires at Coronation Market in two years and one at the Highgate Market in St Mary.

NO ASSISTANCE

Neita Garvey said Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie needs to take an urgent look at the situation which has resulted in serious damage to buildings and vendors losing millions in goods stored in the markets.

In the case of the Coronation Market, on December 11, and the ‘Ray Ray’ fire on Monday, vendors have reportedly receive no assistance in restoring their livelihoods.

Neita Garvey pleaded for urgent action to get all markets to the required fire safety levels, after which they should be audited and approved by the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

She said there should be no compromise in the standard of the safety for the people who use the markets and arcades islandwide.