THE Kitty Market will again miss the deadline given for its re-opening due to the cash-strapped state of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC). Town Clerk Royston, King had announced that the market would have had a November 1 opening.In fact, even as only 65 percent of the works have been completed, the M&CC said it is “optimistic” that the market will open “before” the much anticipated holiday season. In an invited comment, Public Relations Officer, Debra Lewis told this newspaper that the November 1 deadline will be missed because of the cash flow issue at the municipality.

She explained that the market is not being subsidized and that rehabilitation works are solely dependent on the rates and taxes, of which some $16B is outstanding to the municipality. Lewis could not give a new opening date for the market and she said it is best no specific date is given because of the many deadlines that have already been missed.

Meanwhile, the M&CC has received more than 170 applications from citizens who wish to occupy new stalls in the market, the ground floor of which is costing the Council roughly $35M. The market, which has great historical significance and bears much pride for the Kitty community, is to feature a traditional health centre, office for rates and taxes, and space for the community councillor.

“We are also contemplating putting some space for the councillor’s office at the market; and this is not only at Kitty, but wherever we have municipal buildings, we intend to make space available for councillors working with their local communities,” Town Clerk, Royston King had disclosed.

According to him, there will be a decentralisation of Council’s work, as the market will take into account the needs of communities between Cummings Lodge and Kitty.

The upper flat of the market is being remodelled to include a rates and taxes office, as well as a municipal clinic.

“People from Cummings Lodge to Kitty don’t have to come all the way to City Hall to pay their rates and taxes. We are aiming to reintroduce the system that was in place many years ago,” Mayor Patricia Chase-Green had told the Chronicle.

The Kitty Market was established in 1882, two years after the Bourda Market had come into being. Like the Bourda Market, Kitty Market is timber-framed. The 19th century structure had suffered massive deterioration over the years prior to its renovation, causing vendors operating in its environs to lodge numerous complaints with the City Council.

The Council had, however, long been citing financial woes as the reason why the market had continued to remain a “threat to life and limb”.