VENDORS HURTING FROM LOSSES, AGENCIES TO MAKE ASSESSMENT
OCHO RIOS, St Ann; Maerch 17, 2025
Vendors at the Ocho Rios Market, St Ann who lost goods, valued at millions of dollars in a fire Sunday afternoon have been urged to be patient while Government agencies make an assessment of the damage and consider assisting them.
(Wholesaler Robert Taylor telling Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie of his massive loss)
About a dozen stalls and shops were either partially or completely destroyed by the fire that broke out Sunday afternoon at about 4 p.m. It’s expected that market activities will continue as most of the market was not affected.
(MP Matthew Samuda, Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie partly hidden and Mayor Michael Belnavis speak about what they have seen following a tour of the damaged section of the Ocho Rios Market Monday, March 17, 025)
(At left is part of a burnt shop Annmarie James said she built. The centre of photo shows ground provision roasted by the fire)
Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie who led a Government team visiting the market Monday morning, March 17, 2025, stressed that there was no quick fix and he could not provide details about the response by Government. He said, “An overnight fix is not going to be the answer.”
Mr McKenzie said several agencies would begin work immediately to get an assessment and the fire brigade was to begin clearing almost immediately.
Also part of the team were: Matthew Samuda, Minister with responsibility for water and MP for North East St Ann; Councillor for Ocho Rios and Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis, and CEO of the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC) Jennifer Brown Cunningham. At least three other councillors were in attendance as well as senior administrative officers of the Council. A detachment of police officers led by Senior Superintendent Dwight Powell was also in attendance.
They heard narrations from several vendors about their losses and the needs they now have.
Annmarie James, a dry goods vendor told North Coast Times that her shop building – an 18-ft high fibre glass and metal structure that was destroyed was built by her last December at a cost of one and a half million dollars. She said she and her sister Tamara had lost goods valued at nearly two million dollars, in the fire. She said she was upset she did not hear anything positive from the tour.
The biggest loss at the market appeared to have been suffered by Robert Taylor, a wholesaler with three large shops that were completely burnt out, including stock estimated at more than three million dollars. “I don’t know what to do. Is like mi turn fool,” Taylor said. He said he had got no satisfaction from talking to Minister McKenzie and didn’t know where to turn.
Senior officers from the St Ann Fire Department were continuing their assessment and attempting to determine the cause of the fire.
FOLLOW THE NORTH COAST TIMES PLATFORMS OVR THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR MORE ON THE OCHO RIOS MARKET FIRE STORY
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