PORT ANTONIO PORTLAND:

The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDco) has informed the Portland Parish Council that the Craft Village site at Allan Avenue, in Port Antonio, can only accom-modate 45 craft vendors.

The disclosure has now put the council in a precarious position as it had hoped the Craft Village site would have been able to accom-modate more than 70 craft vendors during a relocation exercise, which is expected to commence by August.

Oliver park an alternative

Fay Neufville, acting secretary manager of the council, explained that they now have to look at the likelihood of using the Oliver Park property as an additional relocation site for the remaining craft vendors.

The decision to relocate the vendors is as a result of much needed repairs to the Musgrave market in Port Antonio, which is scheduled to undergo major rehabilitation by TPDco, and the Portland Parish Council.

So far, TPDco has contributed $25 million towards the project, which will be carried out in two phases. Approximately $42 million is needed to complete repairs at the market facility, which is leaking heavily, especially during rainfall.

According to Mayor of Port Antonio Floyd Patterson, a building has to be constructed at Oliver Park to accommodate the remaining vendors. He noted that a toilet facility and an area for parking will have to be in place, along with garbage receptacles.