DEBIT CARD MARKET FEES

Bent on making of an historic profit, the Trelawny Municipal Corporation will in part be banking on the introduction of a cashless system for vending fees at the newly constructed market, which is expected to be opened late next month.

“This market, under my watch must be the first market to make a profit in Jamaica. So it is some big goals, but I am going to tackle that. And one of the ways… we have already commissioned persons to design a cashless system for us. So every vendor that is going down that market will have a card. You swipe your card at the gate. So if you swipe your card and there is no money, no entrance, “Chairman of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, Councilor Colin Gager told reporters.

Meanwhile, during his address at the presentation of the Trelawny Local Sustainable Development Plan (TLSDP) at the Trelawny Municipal Corporation on Friday, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie announced an allocation of $15 million to top off the state of the art Falmouth market.

“You want to get into your market somewhere by April; I am saying to you that we will provide for you a sum of $15million. This fund will go towards allowing the final touch on this market that is badly needed,” McKenzie announced. “Falmouth is a traditional marketplace not just for the people of Falmouth. Even people from my own constituency and they keep buzzing me, singing in my ears about the conditions. They want it too.”

Meanwhile, Gager disclosed that additional funding of some $30million is now required to apply the finishing touches at the new facility, constructed by the Port Authority of Jamaica at a cost of $300million, as a tradeoff for the existing facility.

“We are looking at about roughly finishing up that market with about a $30 million. We have started out with our own budget from the local authority of about $12 million. So we are getting another $15million from the Minister so that should be near completion with what we want to do because remembered we are creating a new and different market. It’s a market that we are expecting will run seven days a week,” Gager informed members of the media.

He disclosed that just to cover the area for stalls erected in the “bend down” section of the market will attract a budget of nearly $6million, plus for daily usage, shops will be constructed on the property.

In the meantime, Gager disclosed security will be provided at the market with the use of a close circuit television system and private security company at the new market, which is expected to be opened by the third week in April.

“We are installing cameras down there and we intent to put that into Jamaica Eye so that everything is there to see and your place is protected so you are coming into a safe area. We are also going to hire trained security guards,” Gager remarked.

He was, however, quick to advise that the services “can’t come for a cost of $200”.

“We are trying to keep it minimal, but it is going to be over $500 per week,” Gager noted.

He was speaking to reporters following the presentation of the TLSDP.

The local government minister lauded the Trelawny Municipal Corporation for following in the footsteps of the municipalities of St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon and St Catherine which have already established sustainable development plans.

“The step that Trelawny has taken is not just a small step; it is not just following the footsteps of other municipalities. It is the way of the world. And that is why the European Union and all the stakeholders have found favor in putting resources into the programme,” McKenzie said.

The TLSDP is geared towards exploring opportunities for further development, investment and employment within the parish of Trelawny.

It is also a tool to guide the local authority to manage the orderly growth and development of the parish by identifying areas of improvement and opportunities and the strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of the parish.