Vendors at Constant Spring Market protest their notice to evict the building in August 2018.
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Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams and attorney Bert Samuels
The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has said there is no plan for a replacement to Constant Spring Market after it is demolished.
Concerns have been expressed about the need for a market to serve Constant Spring and adjoining communities and for a location to accommodate the vendors.
In an interview with RJR News Friday morning, Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams, said there is no need for a new market at this time.
"It's not necessary. I believe that those resources would be best spent on upgrading the facilities we have now and modernising them and creating spaces within our markets that we now have, so that in the use of the market that they are comfortable and they enjoy the experience," he reasoned.
Mr. Williams said vendors can use Stony Hill Market and other facilities in the Corporate Area as the travel distance should not be too inconvenient.
Vendors at the Constant Spring Market will be evicted this weekend following Thursday's denial of an injunction to stop the KSAMC from demolishing the facility.
Mr. Williams said the municipal corporation will give the vendors funds to relocate, and where possible, help them relocate.
He said more than 50 per cent of the vendors have already relocated.
However, some vendors have complained that the funds are inadequate.
Bert Samuels, the attorney for the vendors, has raised questions about the sum of money allocated to them for compensation.
Speaking at a media briefing following the Supreme Court's ruling on Thursday, Mr. Samuels said $5.7 million is to be split among the more than sixty vendors. However, he said he has received information to suggest that the funds provided for the KSAMC or the National Works Agency (NWA) to compensate the vendors is larger.
Mr. Samuels also levelled allegations of intimidation against the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, claiming that some of the vendors were offered money and told to fire him.
"I want to know...if somebody is interfering with my right to represent poor people in Jamaica, how that go?" he questioned.
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