Mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis (left) and Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie touring the then newly renovated bathroom facility at the Ocho Rios Market. (Photo: Akera Davis)
Toilet seats stolen from renovated market
OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Months after millions of dollars were pumped into renovating bathrooms in the Ocho Rios and St Ann’s Bay markets, users have done major damage to both facilities, according to mayor of St Ann’s Bay Michael Belnavis.
He told Thursday’s monthly council meeting of the St Ann Municipal Corporation that thieves have removed all the toilets seats from St Ann’s Bay Market.
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“The vendors are not taking care of the market. The brand new bathrooms that they got looks like it is under severe stress, based on the way they deal with the infrastructure. In St Ann’s Bay they have gone with all the bathroom seats,” said Belnavis.
The facility has been open to the public for just a little more than three months. Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie allocated $15 million to fund emergency repairs to sections of the market, including the bathroom. One of the stated goals was to improve conditions for vendors.
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Another $10 million was spent, last year, on upgrading bathrooms in the Ocho Rios Market. Belnavis said that venue is also being treated poorly.
“In Ocho Rios they destroyed the valves and ran up the water bill to over $2 million, so that is now the municipal’s responsibility to pay,” he said.
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The mayor urged vendors and other users to take care of the facilities so they can benefit from the services provided.
“When you destroy it, it takes a lot of resources, time and budgeting for it to be replaced; so please deal with the infrastructure better,” Belnavis pleaded.
