By Keril Wright, Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
ALMOST THREE months after Prime Minister P. J. Patterson officially opened the Montego Bay Civic Centre, the city's designated cultural nucleus lies unfurnished and unused, in the town square.
The only utilisation of the $125 million architecture, the overdue cultural centrepiece of the second city, is the parking lot, while only the gleaming terrazzo tiles and polished wooden flooring occupy the magnificent halls. Secretary Manager of the St. James Parish Council, Lillieth Allen, told The Gleaner that the centre is not being used because it has not been officially handed over to the Parish Council.
"It has not yet been handed over to the Council and as far as I know work is still ongoing," Mrs. Allen said.
A tour of the two-storey reconstructed Georgian facility last Tuesday revealed that construction on a number of the rest rooms was incomplete and dust had settled comfortably on the floors and railings.
Mrs. Allen noted yesterday that the Council had also made a $17 million request to the Ministry of Local Government, "months ago", asking for $3 million in the interim, to furnish the cultural centre. The city managers have also established a committee chaired by Councillor Charmaine Gillette-Richards, to spearhead the management.
The project's developers the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) declined to comment on when the centre would be transferred to the Council and why this transfer had not yet occurred.
Regional manager Winston Richie said he would not comment on the matter and directed queries to the head office. However officials there were said to be unavailable for comment.
The civic centre, which now stands majestically in Sam Sharpe Square, is a resurrection of the old burnt-out courthouse and the Albert Market, destroyed by fire 33 years ago.
It is intended as a place where the city's artists can develop and hone their talent and exhibit their works, and a place where civic ceremonies, town hall meetings and major cultural events will have a permanent home, and theatrical productions and performances would flourish.
Its construction, which began in October 1998, was undertaken by joint venture partners Inprosur, CA of Venezuela and Clasford Woolery and Partners of Montego Bay, under the San Jose Accord between the Jamaican and Venezuelan governments. Slated for completion in 16 months, it missed its original March 2000 deadline and subsequent deadlines after that, and was eventually handed over to the St. James Parish Council prior to its official opening in October this year.
The opening was well attended by a wide cross-section of Jamaicans, political and civic leaders including the Prime Minister, who lauded the centre's construction as a tribute to Montego Bay's heritage.
