At Thursday’s BTIA meeting, one of the concerns raised was the poor condition of the Punta Gorda Vegetable Market. One resident took to social media to express concerns, pointing out that the Maria Lopez Market was funded by the European Union and the Government of Belize at a cost of $1 million in 2016. However, today, the facility is in a deplorable condition, with a heap of mud in the middle, holes throughout the area, and conditions that pose serious health hazards which include rats running around in the market. It is a known fact  that rats carry diseases and should not be nowhere near foods.Vendors who pay rent to operate at the market are forced to work under these conditions. The market falls under the responsibility of the Punta Gorda Town Council, and residents are once again calling on the council to take action and ensure this public facility is properly maintained. It has been several years that the market has had problems under both PUP and UDP administration. None of them seem to want to address the problem. We reached out to the PG town council but no one responded to our call.