SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine: THE ST. Catherine Parish Council has been criticised by the parish's chamber of commerce for its tardiness in allowing the Spanish Town market to be ordered closed because of the unsanitary conditions there.
President of the St. Catherine Chamber of Commerce O.B. Johnson told The Gleaner that it was a shame and disgrace on the part of the Parish Council, to allow the market to deteriorate to the extent where it had to be closed. He added that the market is just one of the many facilities which have deteriorated under the hands of the Parish Council. Mr. Johnson also cited the historic monuments in Spanish Town which are in a poor state.
He urged the Parish Council to stop the talking and do something positive to lift up the town.
Meanwhile, secretary/manager of the Parish Council Michael Morris, in a recent interview, said that the Council will be taking back the market from the leaser this month. He said that poor management had caused the market to fall into disrepair. He added that the Council will be advertising for a commercial manager who is expected to run all the commercial entities in the parish.
Last week, the market was ordered closed by the St. Catherine Health Department. Despite a reinspection which was done on Monday by the health department, the market was still closed. The department said that the work done by the Council was yet to meet the minimum health requirement for the closure notice to be lifted.
