Vitruvius, Contributor THE ELECTION is over and the big question is what now. Will the 'boom' of government contracts for roads and housing continue or will this funding dry up for four years?
My guess is not entirely. The funding for most of these projects appeared to be already in place and at the moment things seem to be business as usual, except for the missing workers last week.
These unfortunate souls unable to leave from where they live, before and a few days after the election, made building sites across the island seem like ghost towns. Note the potential power of the lowly labourer.
I expect that most road projects will eventually dry up and the recurring headline referring to bad road conditions will prevail. Major projects such as Highway 2000 probably will continue as there is a lot to gain from that one in future elections not to mention the benefits to those involved.
The project that concerns me is the one that apparently has never left the table - just shifted under a few other files - the new Houses of Parliament. Seeing as the Ministry of Finance parking lot in Heroes Park has now been formalised with asphalt and kerbs, it is just a matter of time before the master plan to get rid of the park comes up again.
Having provided us with a wonderful park in New Kingston I'm sure the logic is then why do we have to provide another? Why not take away the one potential green space from the poor people downtown. Well here is my suggestion.
Have another competition, for a park and make sure the re-opening of a refurbished Heroes Park coincides with the next general election. The people will be far more willing to vote for that than for a temple to a Parliament that they neither understand nor respect, and think is full of crooks.
I do believe a new Parliament building is in order, but there is so much land that could be acquired around Heroes Circle. As a matter of fact, if the lands presently occupied by Stanley Motta were acquired for the Parliament, then the four Compass points would be occupied by three ministry buildings and one historical school.
Over time more portions could be developed and the park, the home for our heroes would be central to all the buildings on the perimeter. A developed park would then become a focal area uniting the buildings and creating an urban landscape to compete with any of the great cities of the world.
If this approach were taken I would even concede some of the park being given up for parking. The parking should be outside the park unlike how it is now, and the park re-configured to facilitate this. I believe in this so much that I would even considering revealing my identity to be part of the planning committee.
Email: vitsangle@yahoo.com
