Major boost for Clark’s Town, Trelawny
CLARK’S TOWN, Trelawny: The Clark’s Town Market will undergo a $20 million rehabilitation project as part of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development’s comprehensive programme to upgrade markets across the island.
“Our markets are in desperate need of attention, and it is the obligation of the Government to ensure that we provide the necessary resources,” said Portfolio Minister Honourable Desmond McKenzie.
“This year, the administration intends to set aside some $150 million to look at the problems of markets as no significant work has been undertaken over the last five years in our public markets.”
Minister McKenzie was speaking at the official opening ceremony for the Clark’s Town Transport Centre on Friday, April 6, 2018.
“We will be breaking ground so that by the end of this month, construction will begin to give you a brand-new market to complement the transportation centre.”
He also disclosed that a further $10 million has been committed to complete the new Falmouth Market which will facilitate the relocation of vendors from the Bend Down Market space.
The Minister told the gathering that a contract valued at $54 million has been signed to upgrade the Port Maria in St Mary and a further sum of $15 million will be released to install the awning at the Black River Market in St Elizabeth.
“The Trelawny Municipal Corporation is dedicated to the growth and development of the parish, through its operations, and today’s opening of this transport centre is testament to that,” said Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collin J. Gager.
“Not only will this centre create a main space for vehicles, but it will also regulate the commute of passengers to and from this major town.”
Mayor Gager noted too that the Municipal Corporation will monitor the day to day operations of the Clark’s Town Transport Centre and it will be maintained through the small fees collected from the taxi and bus operators who use the facility. Both the Clark’s Town Market and Transport Centre are housed within the same location.
“I am happy that today we are seeing the good about transportation in this town, a major development for the parish of Trelawny.”
According to information gleaned from Www.Visitjamaica.Com, the owner of the Swandswick Estate, Mr. G.M. Clarke, donated a 30-acres of land on the edge of his estate to be used for the development of a “Free Village” following the emancipation of slaves in Jamaica in the mid-nineteenth century. It is said that the village, at the time, was structured in the traditional free village style, with a centrally located church and the houses of mainly sugar estate workers.
