The Belize City Council is well on its way to complete the preparations at the old Pound Yard Compound to have the Queen’s Square Market Vendors relocated for approximately eight months.
Councillor in charge of Markets in Belize City Kevin Singh explains that on Friday July 3 work began at the Pound Yard Compound in order to facilitate the move of the vendors from their existing location. He says that the move has become necessary in order for construction to commence at the Queen’s Square Market which will see the construction of a new facility. As it is, significant work was put in on the Pound Yard Compound with bathroom facilities, electricity and water being put in place for the vendors. Additionally a division fence was put up to separate the vendors from the buses that will share use of the compound. Along with that, gravel has been put in on the entire compound to minimize dust and mud.
Singh was at the Queen Square Market along with Social Investment Fund representatives on the afternoon of Tuesday July 7 where the vendors were explained what to expect in the upcoming months. The Social Investment Funds Public Relations Manager Mike Hernandez says that the project for the upgrade of the Queen’s Square Market will see the investment of a total of $614,340. The money is derived from the Caribbean Development Bank which contributed $491,472, the government of Belize that put in $104,118 and 18 thousand dollars contributed by the community.
Hernandez says that the project will be split in two phases with the first phase seeing the construction of 20 stalls; two measuring 10’X10’ and 18 others measuring 20’X10’. Additionally there will be the refurbishment of the existing permanent structures along with the placement of proper drains and bathroom facilities as well as a garbage disposal system.
During his visit at the Queen’s Square Market, Singh distributed tickets with numbers to correspond with places at the Pound Yard Compound. He says that the vendors were at first apprehensive about the move but have now come to realize that it is a necessity in order for improvements to be made inside the market.
