McKenzie denies election tactics behind Yallahs Market clean-up

Local Government and Community Development Minister, Desmond McKenzie, has dismissed claims that the clean-up and restoration of the Yallahs Market in St Thomas is an election tactic.

McKenzie made the remarks while speaking to vendors at the market on Wednesday following an assessment of the ongoing clean-up activities.

"I want to encourage the community not to be distracted by mischief. So, a don't want nobody to tell you that, 'Is because election a come, wi a fool dem'," McKenzie told the vendors.

He said his commitment to restoring the market dates back to 2016.

"I made this commitment from 2016, and we will do everything in our powers to ensure that the Yallahs Market is fully restored. So I ask for understanding and further patience as we continue the improvement works," McKenzie urged.

He said he expects the full restoration of the market to be completed by December.

He also sought to assured the vendors that funding is not a concern, and said the restoration work will be done in stages.

"The work on the ground is going to be continuous work, but remember now, we have to do this properly... The funds are not a problem. We gonna do the work, and we gonna do it in stages," Mckenzie stated.

He said the work is now at "phase three, moving into phase four of the project."

Added McKenzie: "As I said before, it is my intention to ensure that (for) Christmas we have a spanking new, renovated facility."

He also stated that the ministry has no intention of relocating the current market.

"Majority of the vendors, and majority of shoppers, want the market to be restored. They don't want the market to be relocated, and it is not the intention of the Government to relocate the market.

"It is not our intention to allow the market to be used for any other purpose outside of what the market was made for," McKenzie added.