Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby has expressed concern for vendors affected by an early morning fire at Ray Ray Market in downtown Kingston on Tuesday.

The Mayor, who visited the site on Tuesday afternoon, conveyed sympathies for the displaced vendors whose stalls and goods were completely destroyed in the blaze.

He went on to share that officers from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) will be assisting with clean-up operations starting on Wednesday.

“The KSAMC is indeed saddened to learn of the fire at the Oxford Mall Arcade, more popularly known as ‘Ray Ray Ground’. Our officers reported that the entire market was destroyed by fire early this morning,” the KSAMC shared in a statement on Tuesday.

Outlining that the market is a means of livelihood for many, the KSAMC used the opportunity to urge vendors to form an association among themselves to “advocate on their behalf and to air their concerns in a formal and organised way.”

It went on to express gratitude that no lives were lost and no one was reported injured in the fire.

This is reportedly the fifth fire to occur at the Ray Ray market since 2022.