PM says Highgate, St Mary to get two-storey market

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the government is to build a two-storey market in Highgate, St Mary as part of efforts to repair the country's infrastructure.

The market was destroyed in July 2022 by a fire caused by electrical problems.

Dozens of stalls were damaged, leading to millions of dollars in losses. 

Speaking to residents of the town on Saturday while on the campaign trail for the local government election, set for next Monday, Holness, who is also the leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party, said the investment will be made as the current site is not convenient. 

“It is congested, sometimes the town looks dirty, sometimes you don't feel safe; a lot of the things are old and need to be repaired so the government has to come in now and make an investment which is what we're going to do with your new market,” he said.

Holness said Jamaica's infrastructure has deteriorated over the last 40 years and “it is the Jamaica Labour Party that has started to rebuild and build new infrastructure,” he stated.

Part of the infrastructure rebuilding will be some $20 billion that has been allocated in this year's budget to repair local roads, including those in Central St Mary, where Highgate is situated.

- Carl Gilchrist 

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