- FileShoppers swarm the streets of downtown Kingston looking for bargains.
Klao Bell, Staff Reporter
COLOURFUL people cram sidewalks, spilling over into the roadway, jostling shoulder to shoulder as they rush up and down the famous King, West Queen and Princess streets. Sweaty hand-cart men navigate the cluttered corridors - the energy is fever-pitch and the rush contagious. The chorus of voices advertising their low-priced wares compete with the pulsating sound systems.
This is downtown, Kingston.
Fat women with tightly wrapped turbans sit with aprons hanging over rows of fruits and vegetables. The fragrance of freshly picked herbs competes with the odour of gutter water and raw fish. Men sitting around playing cards and dominoes keep one eye on their ground provisions the cheapest and best of which are available here, at Coronation Market in downtown Kingston.
Lawyers, draped in black, walk along King and Duke streets to their offices on the many streets surrounding the Supreme Court building located on lower King Street. The quiet hum of traffic pass the stately Bank of Jamaica building on Park Place and before that, the Jamaica Stock Exchange and the old Grace Kennedy building, some of the oldest buildings in Kingston. Negro Aroused, a sculpture by the late Edna Manley looks towards the sea on Ocean Boulevard. It stands guard, over a harbour where great ships no longer frequent.
Three different images in Kingston's cosmopolitan core, which, though a most critical district to the economy, culture and history of Jamaica, remains bound by violence, underdevelopment and poor planning.
But amidst the problems, violent outbreaks, illegal vending, extortion and racketeering, thousands of Jamaicans from all across the island still find alluring, what some regard as a "dangerous" place, and make the journey into the city centre every single day.
"Downtown is the economic capital of the nation. The Central Bank, Stock Exchange, Accoun-tant-General Office and the headquarters of the most profitable commercial bank (Bank of Nova Scotia) are all here. The court system and a well-ordered legal district are here. The Kingston Public Hospital which is the most well-equipped hospital in the Caribbean is located here. The headquarters of major companies are here. There is a profitable merchant trading system where you can get the best prices anywhere, right here in downtown Kingston," recited Morin Seymour, head of the Kingston Restoration Company (KRC).
The 19-year-old KRC was established to restore "downtown as an active commercial and production centre through physical and social projects for the reduction of urban poverty." Though the company has met a number of its targets, it still has a long way to go. But Mr. Seymour believes that downtown has the key to revitalising Jamaica.
"We have in downtown the keys to improving downtown, what we need are major adjustments to how the city functions," Mr. Seymour said.
Deepak Vaswani, general manager of Lerner shops, whose family has worked downtown for 50 years, agrees.
"Eighty per cent of the nation's supplies come from downtown. All the people from rural areas come here to shop. Farmers bring their wares. Wholesalers send goods to retailers. Downtown is such an important part of this country yet the authorities do not give it the respect it deserves," Mr. Vaswani said.
But, inspite of this, he said he would never leave the "most fantastic shopping district."
His neighbour, a furniture salesman who didn't want to be named in this story said: "The problem is, when there is violence, sales drop for three or four days but it bounces back again. If the big companies aren't leaving why should I."
Two Saturdays ago, two persons were killed while seven others were injured in an alleged shoot-out between police officers and gunmen along Princess Street. But as one person noted, even though the crowds dispersed during the shooting, within hours people were back to their routine.
"I like to sell down here, the vibes, the people...I'm not afraid, I don't let the violence get at me - its just an everyday reality," said Janet Brown, a vendor who has been selling on King Street for five years.
At the top of Luke Lane, several young men were standing under a tarpaulin where what seemed like hundreds of women's blouses were hanging. Kevin Smith, one of the vendors loves working downtown and is annoyed by its misrepresentation.
"Sometimes them hear a gun shot far away over Spanish Town road and everybody start run up and down like idiot. Next thing you hear inna news seh shot a fire downtown. When mi go home mi family a worry but no shot neva fire right here so yet. Sometimes mi not even hear no shot," Mr. Brown said. The KRC head agrees with him.
"Downtown is twice as safe as New Kingston... the bigger danger is the perception," Mr. Seymour said.
Yvon Jaouen, a French cau-casian tourist strolling through St. William Grant Park because he was bored with his New Kingston hotel, also felt safe.
"If you want to know about Kingston you have to come here. I'm not afraid besides, just like anywhere else you must be careful," Mr. Jaouen, said.
The Denham Town Police said crime is rarely reported in the commercial area. Superintendent Talbert Whyte could recall two reports of murders and two robberies since the start of the year.
But even when people do not feel safe, they still go downtown. Three Cuban women walked tentatively along Orange Street selecting goods for their trip home.
"I don't feel safe, but...things cheap," one woman said in broken English.
On the other hand, Shawnette Parker thinks it's the only place to shop.
"You don't get fashion anywhere else like you get it downtown. The latest, cheapest and best variety are here," the 27-year-old woman said.
Ironically, the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has been intent on erasing an aspect of great appeal to sellers and buyers - street-side shopping. This, says Town Clerk Errol Greene, is essential to restoring law and order to the district.
