UDC says downtown Kingston craft market to reopen soon

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) says the craft market in downtown Kingston is to reopen soon.

Fire this morning damaged 18 shops at the front of the facility.

However, the UDC says no damage was done to the remaining 107 shops and no one was injured.

One vendor, Vinnette Ferguson, said she lost all her inventory in the fire.

The UDC says assessments continue to fully ascertain the value of the damage.

However, it says it’s anticipated that once the Jamaica Fire Brigade has completed its examinations the facility should be reopened in short order.

The UDC says it met with the vendors this morning and is putting in place recovery measures, such as clean-up operations, grief counselling, business continuity initiatives and inventory storage.

The Corporation says it has also had dialogue with the Jamaica Vendors and Higglers Association and the Kingston Craft Market executive.

The UDC says support is welcomed from the public and private sector as clean-up and restoration efforts continue.