Councillor blames residents for deplorable state of Annotto Bay market

Councillor candidate for the Annotto Bay division in St Mary, Hugh Bryan, has pushed back against criticism about the state of the Annotto Bay market, saying the users should share some of the blame.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) representative is seeking re-election.

“The failure of the vendors to occupy the market each time we renovate the market leads to the condition it is in right now,” Bryan said. 

He said the parish council employs the services of a sweeper and a market attendant. 

“That person works every day each week. The market is washed once or twice per week. We use the power wash and wash the market,” he told The Gleaner. 

Bryan stressed that the public health department has a strict standard for the market.

“The public health monitors the activities of the market, so I am not sure what they are speaking about,” he said in reference to some residents' complaints. 

Some residents and supporters of the opposition People's National Party told The Gleaner that the market was in a deplorable condition and was a breeding ground for rats and other rodents. 

Alicia Watson told The Gleaner she intends to vote for the PNP because the situation at the market. 

“Time come because the market is very stink. Nobody cares about where I buy my food. I cannot buy my food at PriceSmart, I have to buy it at Annotto Bay market where I born and grow and it's very stink,” Watson said. 

She said garbage collection is another concern. 

She said, “No rubbish no control in Deh, nobody no sweep nor nothing. The gutter stink. Time come”

However, Bryan says the authorities are also having challenges with vandalism.

“We have residents who vandalise the market and play football in there sometimes. We seek the assistance of the police on many occasions to get them out,” Bryan said, adding that he plans to have renovations done again soon. 

-Andre Williams

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