New Jubilee Commercial Centre unveiled

The streets of downtown Kingston are expected to be much easier to traverse after 40 vendors were moved into the newly reopened and renamed Jubilee Commercial Centre, formerly the Jubilee Market.

The commercial centre was officially opened Wednesday morning by the mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby. Swaby also unveiled the new sign outside the building located on West Parade.

The market had been closed and under construction since it was gutted by fire several years ago.

"Make sure you take care of it. don't make it run down. What we have tried to do is to change the name to show you that it is a commercial centre; you are no less of a business person than the person who owns NCB. That is what I want to see your mind at," Swaby told vendors who gathered outside of the market for the launch.

He said all vendors are required to sign a lease agreement with the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), and they are also required to connect with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) for electricity.

He also warned vendors who are afforded spaces not to attempt to sublet the premises, and encouraged them to form a market committee to directly interface with the KSAMC.

"The last thing I want to talk about is, I don't want anybody who gets inside of there to come back out on the road. We are trying to keep here sterile, so don't tell us you have any competition," he said, noting that all the regulations were previously discussed with the vendors.

One vendor who identified herself only as 'Pat' said she was particularly elated. "The market burned down...and after so many years we are just coming back inside. So we feel so great about it, and I give God thanks," she noted, adding that she welcomes the name change.

- Corey Robinson

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