SAYS HALF OF THE VENDORS IN ITS MARKETS NOT PAYING FEES
OCHO RIOS, St Ann — May 10,2024
The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) says it is dedicated to the craft industry and committed to collaborative problem-solving with the vendors.
.A statement from the UDC on Friday, May 10, 2024, came a day following statements from craft traders in St Ann bashing the Corporation. The traders lashed UDC, charging it was neglectful in its care and maintenance of stalls and the general aesthetics of markets it operates in the parish.
On Friday, craft operators continued their statements of distrust about the UDC, after some drains and passageways in and around the Ocho Rios Craft market were left open, or dug up apparently for repairs, hours after a press conference there. It is during that press conference that the craft traders stated strongly that their businesses were being badly affected and called for dialogue with the UDC.
MILITANT CRAFT VENDORS LAY DOWN ULTIMATUM
The UDC says it “Is committed to collaborative problem-solving with the vendors to enhance mutual benefits.”
(Vendors listening at a press conference Thursday)
The vendors had also set a deadline of May 22, for those talks to begin and action on their grouses to commence.
In their release, the UDC did not refer to the charges but pointed out they were responsible for three markets in St Ann — Ocho Rios, Dunn’s River, and Pineapple.
The UDC said its rates at those markets were between $1,200 and $2,400 a month “underscoring UDCs commitment to providing recognized facilities for craft businesses.”
It said, even at the low rates there was a high delinquency rate of fifty percent or 217 of the 434 vendors in its market.
It said further “the combined facilities generate revenues of $7,380,000 against expenses of $17,800,000”. The UDC did not say what year that represented or what were the average losses or subsidies over a given period.
(GO TO THE NORTH COAST TIMES YOU TUBE CHANNEL FOR VIDEOS FROM THURSDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE)
The UDC did not specifically refer to the accusations made regarding action at the Ocho Rios craft market Thursday night. However, the UDC said “Several projects to uplift and clean the markets are currently underway.” It also said that fee collection was important in maintaining these spaces.
(Passageway in the Ocho Rios Craft Market, Thursday)
“Vendor agreements are crucial in for ensuring regulatory compliance and boosting consumer confidence,” the UDC.
(Under repair)
The vendors have said they were refusing to sign new agreements with the UDC as these were not in their best interest.
