Selling in muck: May Pen vendors upset about market conditions

Jermaine Francis, Gleaner Writer

Vendors at the May Pen Market in Clarendon have complained bitterly about the state of the market after heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Nicole flooded the area leaving piles of debris.

Murky water flowed heavily through the market when The Gleaner visited yesterday.

The vendors said they were frustrated with the conditions of the market, as whenever it rained, the situation was untenable. They also said that they were not pleased with the pace at which the authorities were working to correct the situation.

"The market is in bad condition and is in need of repairs. Even the stall dem flood out and nobody not doing anything to help us," a woman who gave her name as Gem said.

She said that the authorities have only paid lip service to resolving the problem.

nothing done

Added the vendor: "Every time dem come and look, and nothing is being done to fix the market, and now when the rain fall, it even worse 'cause there is nowhere for the water to run off."

Another vendor said the drain that leads the water out of the market had been blocked for some time, and whenever it rained heavily, the water settled in the market and inconvenienced shoppers and vendors alike.

Efforts to reach the authorities responsible for the management of the market proved futile yesterday.

The Gleaner was told that the mayor of May Pen, Milton Brown, was not in office and that no one else was able to comment on the situation.