Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Haynesley Benn, chats with vendors at the Oistins Fish Market

Despite complaints from fisher folk at the Oistins Fish market, the Ministry of Agriculture has undertaken work at the Christ Church complex and more improvements are on the way.

Word of this has come from Minister of Agriculture, Senator Haynesley Benn, after completing a tour of the Fish Market this morning with several ministry officials.
Senator Benn pointed out that while the vendors have a “legitimate grouse”, and plans are afoot to “rectify a lot of their concerns”, the Ministry had done some “cosmetic work” to the market place, such as the rebuilding of the northern and western sides of the Boner’s Hall; the installation of windows and the tiling of rebuilt sides, with limited funding.

“We (the Ministry) need to put things in place to accommodate them (the fisher folk’, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, ‘, NULL, NULL, 0); their food, their health and their safety are under threat. I am also thinking that the whole area where they are located needs to be retro-fitted in an attempt to ensure good ventilation, better lighting, adequate storage and proper drainage,” he said.

While acknowledging that the vendors’ conditions needed to be improved, he also conceded that the outside needed attention as well.

“Some of the things don’t affect them (the fisher folk) directly, but impact negatively on the wholesomeness of the general market.  It needs to be kept clean.  It is an important area and it is an area that visitors and locals frequent,” he said.

The Minister went on to say that in addition to the work undertaken the Ministry was currently looking to make major changes at the Christ Church facility.

“We are currently reviewing the situation to provide paving for the car park, the installation of four industrial ceiling fans in the processing hall; the installation of five sets of double florescent light fittings; repairing drains and manholes and the construction of 36 lockers for fish processors,” he declared.

Pin It on Pinterest