Craft vendors angry at pending Fern Gully closure

Craft traders, who ply their wares along the Fern Gully, in St. Ann, are now seething with anger, hours before a government agency locks off full vehicular access to the critical main road, to carry out a half a billion dollar repair project.

The craft traders are demanding answers from the National Works Agency (NWA) claiming that, to date, they are yet to be told of a suitable alternative location to ply their wares.

At midnight Friday, the six kilometre stretch of the famous tourist thoroughfare will be closed for nine months.

The free flow of vehicular traffic will make way for massive repairs to be carried out by the NWA.

With this imminent closure, more than 70 persons who peddle craft items to entice tourists will be directly affected.

Rose Garrick, who heads a local craft traders group, told RJR News that members of the craft trading community are “stressed, depressed and angered” about the temporary closure and its immediate impact on their lives and  those of their families.

She could not say how many people would be losing in terms of income, but noted that there is an air of uneasiness among the traders since the announcement was made.

“From Tuesday we have been very stressed, very depressed, all of us, we are not taking it well at all. I even spoke to the Member of Parliament and he had asked Stephen Shaw to roll back the deadline until we sort out,” she said.

Ms Garrick, who is also the President of the Fern Gully Craft Traders Association, said the traders have not yet begun to pack up even though the time for the closure is fast approaching.

She said while traders are not planning any major disruptions, they will be unyielding in their demands for a new date to be proposed for the temporary road closure.

“We’re not packing up because we decided to come out to work because this date has to [be] rolled back, the deadline on Saturday is too quick. I am trying to avoid demonstrations,” Ms. Garrick said.

The NWA has stated that operators of large buses travelling to and from Ocho Rios from the direction of Moneague should use the Chalky Hill Road, while smaller units should use the Breadnut Hill route.

Representatives of the works agency were expected to address the craft vendors Friday afternoon.