THA Secretary: Take care of $36m Scarborough market

The newly renovated Scarborough Market will be commissioned on Monday.

The market was closed in 2018 after vendors complained of its poor condition.

Secretary for the Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries Hayden Spencer said the renovations cost $36 million, including $800,000 to outfit the new market.

The market will accommodate 242 vendors.

Speaking to Newsday on Wednesday, Spencer said Tobagonians have a lot to be proud of, but they must also ensure the market is well maintained.

Spencer said, “It’s important for them to take care of this market and not to get back into the old ways and adapt to the modern time of how markets are now, so customers can feel comfortable eating and shopping in an area that is sanitary.”

He said the relocation of the vendors from the temporary market in Shaw Park back to the new market is ongoing. “I’m unable to give a number off my head of how many of them have moved thus far. The moving in started last weekend and I know some more will be going from this weekend. It will take three weekends to get them all in. I hope we don’t get any hiccups and they will all get in within that time.”

Spencer said he isn’t aware of any challenges and the process is moving smoothly.

“I don’t foresee any challenges either. The contractors are still on site and the project managers are still on site to ensure everything holds well, because things could happen, like pipe issues. So that any little thing that goes wrong in that window period, the contractor is at a moment's notice away so that they could treat with it. It’s just something that happens in construction."

Spencer said the pandemic delayed the completion of the renovations.

“If it had not been for the covid19 we would have been in that facility already. The market was old and dilapidated. I feel good that Tobagonians will soon be back in the hub of activity in Scarborough. This is a market with a difference, one that meets all the health and OSH requirements, before and post-covid19, despite the challenges.”

He said the division will work towards preventing any illegal vending outside the market.

“We are not allowing it. It will not be tolerated. No one will be allowed to come and set up any old sheds. This will change the ambience. The work done on the market has lifted the market and we will keep it that way.”