‘Strict health protocols, backed by CCTV, to be enforced’ at Fairchild St Market Village

Health protocols to govern the new Market Village at Fairchild Street will be strictly enforced, the project’s spokeswoman, Joy-Ann Haigh, said Monday.

As she took journalists on a tour of the area, 58 stalls at the original market site were being demolished and prepared for removal.

The state of the previous market was not fit for safe food processing, she said.

“One of the rules will be in health best practices, health certificate – we are in a COVID environment– [so] how to operate, the communications consultant said. “We will hold a [virtual] meeting with the Ministry of Health and Wellness with some of the vendors right now on how to operate in a safe way.

“In all honesty, the old market as you can see, a lot of persons could not prepare food in this market, the space was not healthy at all. They have new markets, we want to encourage them in best practices in terms of how to handle food in a better way through the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and they are excited to also participate in that exercise.”

Citing past incidents where individuals would often relieve themselves or litter in and around the market, Haight said such health issues should be a thing of the past amid heightened security in the form of CCTV cameras.

Haigh told journalists: “If you see someone coming around your stall and wanting to litter or urinate, you need to tell them something. Markets are now being monitored with CCTV, so those who had plans or use to decide that they are going to relieve themselves in the market around food, I hope that they think twice because this place is now being monitored.”

The stalls being dismantled are expected to be fully removed by Sunday. Workers will then fully clean the area afterwards and make it ready for the second phase of the project in January when food and vegetable stalls are to be built.
(SB)