After being closed for months, Payne’s Bay Fish Market is now open for business.
The popular St James market was officially reopened on Monday during a ceremony that coincided with the 2021 fishing season.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey, Member of Parliament for St James Central Kerrie Symmonds, Chief Fisheries Officer Joyce Leslie and president of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organizations, Vernel Nicholls, all attended the ceremony.
During his address, Humphrey recalled that the renovations were undertaken as the Highway 1 road works project was also underway.
He stressed that the fisherfolk who utilised the property were consulted throughout the entire process.
“Through consultation, we were able to develop a market and an industry that reflects the things and the people in the industry would want for themselves. Before, people had to stand on buckets or crates to ply their trade and we said that could not work in a modern Barbados where people should be treated fairly,” Humphrey said.
As part of the facelift, the team made sure they followed international phytosanitary standards of modern markets. A part of the roof was expanded, a large sink was placed outside, a bathroom was added, wheelchair access was provided, the outdoors were paved and the countertops were raised and finished with commercial quartz.
In August, Humphrey said the renovations would cost $195 000.
The Consett Bay Fish Market in St John, Weston in St James, and Tent Bay in St Joseph are also set to be renovated.
Earlier this year after the Payne’s Bay market was closed, there were rumours that the market would be sold to foreign investors. In June, Democratic Labour Party spokesperson for health, Paul Gibson held a press conference and asked for an update.
However, Symmonds, who is also the Minister of Small Business reiterated that they never intended to sell the project.
“It is a matter of common sense and hygiene that a person should recognise automatically. I shouldn’t have to explain this to you, you cannot sell fresh fish in the middle of a construction zone, and sprinkle them with cement from the sidewalks.
“People should not be subjected to having to come purchase provision in unhygienic circumstances. The market was closed to facilitate the construction taking place without impacting negatively the public health,” Symmonds said. (TG)
