McKenzie lashes Westmoreland Municipal Corporation over market leases

Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie says he's "very disturbed" that the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation has been "giving away" public markets without proper lease arrangements. 

Speaking with reporters on a tour of the Whitehouse market on Wednesday morning, McKenzie noted that the rules require that the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development assess and approve applications for markets to be leased.

However, he said the Whitehouse market and several others have been rented without that procedure being followed.

“There is no way any responsible mayor or administration can take up what belongs to the taxpayers and just literally give it away without a proper lease arrangement,” the local government minister lamented.

The Gleaner understands that the market has been leased to Raphiel Williams, a resident of the parish, for the last 20 years. He pays an annual fee of $240,000, with a clause in his contract indicating that the fee will be increased by 7.5 per cent annually. 

McKenzie insists that renters like Williams could find themselves without protection under the current arrangements.

However, he said the ministry would try to work out an arrangement with Williams.

"I'm giving him the assurance that we will not do anything that will prejudice his position," McKenzie said.

- Albert Ferguson

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