United Vendors Association's (UVA) spokeswoman Brenda Christie (right) tells of problems faced by vendors downtown Kingston during a press conference at the Coke Methodist Church Hall, Kingston yesterday. At right is UVA president Eric Clement and consultant Egeton Newman. UVA represents over 2,000 vendors.AMEMORANDUM OF Understanding is to be signed on Friday between the United Vendors Association (UVA) and the Jamaica Vendors, Higglers and Markets Association, aimed at restoring order in and developing the downtown Kingston business district.
The two groups will work together for the overall redevelopment of the city, push for the resumption of law and order in the municipal market district, support vending in prescribed legal vending areas and work with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) and other interested bodies in the quest for order.
UVA consultant Egerton Newman told a press conference at the Coke Methodist Church Hall downtown Kingston yesterday that the two groups were committed to working with the KSAC and JCC but needed some measures in place, especially for the Christmas season, to ensure amicable relations.
These include making prescribed markets habitable and safe, increasing the police's presence and patrol by at least 400 for the season; expanding the market district further downtown towards the harbour and moving the No. 5 bus bay at Parade nearer to the Kingston Mall to accommodate vendor traffic.
Mr. Newman said the UVA was scouting to find places to accommodate the higher number of vendors and shoppers expected during Christmas.
"There are a number of spaces not being used. We've marked out over 4,000 places that vendors can sell in downtown Kingston already. We can't just put all our business around the present area. We need to put back life further downtown," he said.
"We're not recommending any more street vending. We're talking about looking at additional open areas (example the bottom of Orange Street) without cover, fixing it up, paving it off ..."
Town Clerk Errol Greene has said he has no problem about removing buses from congested areas around Parade and had already started looking for other locations for them, with the aid of Metropolitan Transport Holdings. He has also been consistent that the markets and prescribed vending areas are adequate to house the vendors, given that $20 million was spent last November to upgrade several facilities.
Other long-term plans for development, that the UVA announced, include making both police stations serving the area more people friendly and increasing manpower; embarking on a public education campaign on the use and importance of the heritage district of downtown; promoting the area as the best area for business and study; re-establishing the Oceana Hotel and redeveloping the Harbour and the Craft Market.
"We want to bring back the hub of activity downtown," Mr. Newman said.
He also said December 8 would be 'city clean up day' where all vendors would come out to clean up the city.
