THE PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) are supporting yesterday's decision by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to set up a special working group for implementing a comprehensive plan for the redevelopment of the downtown Kingston shopping district.
The decision was made at a Jamaica House meeting yesterday between Mr. Patterson representatives of the KSAC, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) to discuss the controversial downtown Kingston vending issue.
Town Clerk Errol Greene described yesterday's meeting with the Prime Minister, as good. PSOJ head Oliver Clarke said his organisation was pleased and head of the JCC, Michael Ammar, said the meeting has given him renewed optimism for downtown.
"We have pressed the Prime Minister to deal urgently with the issue of law and order and adequate policing of the downtown area and the market area and we have indicated that the PSOJ is very supportive of the further initiative to see what can be done to rebuild the capital city," Mr Clarke said.
He added, "what the PSOJ is trying to identify very clearly is that if we can solve the issue of restoring law and order in Kingston then it's very likely that economic growth and job creation will flow from that, but we feel the restoration of law and order will be a first priority."
Mr. Patterson said that the group is to be headed by Dr. Vin Lawrence, Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and is to meet to discuss recommendations and submit a report to him by mid-January.
The report is to form the basis for concrete decisions to be taken at the next meeting between stakeholders in downtown Kingston and the Prime Minister in January.
A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said that the members of the working group are Kingston Restoration Company (KRC) head Morin Seymour, KSAC's Town Clerk, Errol Greene, Aubyn Hill, managing director of National Commercial Bank (NCB), the JCC president, Michael Ammar, Assistant Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Land and Environment, Jacqueline DaCosta and Pauline Knight, director of social and manpower planning division at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ).
The working group was given six terms of reference, namely:
(1) To examine in conjunction with any other plan, the study document, Vision 20/20, with a view to determining its acceptance as the basic framework for the Kingston Redevelopment envisaged, in order to promote economic development and job creation;
(2) To explore the development of Port Royal, Gunboat Beach, corridors from the airport, the transshipment port, a commercial free zone, heritage sites in Spanish Town, the relocation of the General Penitentiary, as well as other projects in the Kingston Metropolitan Region as it may deem appropriate;
(3) To consider what projects should be afforded the earlier priorities, taking into full account the need for social and physical development of the entire area with the requisite emphasis on the social environment and the physical infrastructure worthy of Jamaica's capital;
(4) To recommend the structure for co-ordinating all the inputs and activities which are necessary for the timely and effective implementation of the Redevelopment in downtown Kingston;
(5) To explore the possible sources and methods of financing the overall development;
(6) To report to the Prime Minister on their recommendation by mid-January, in order to secure an agreement by all partners and stakeholders for effective implementation and decisive action.
"I have not felt this optimistic about downtown for a long time. I hope they won't use this as just another way of making us feel good for a little while," Mr. Ammar said. "I heard what I wanted to hear. I think the Prime Minister has realised that there is a problem and that there are layers to dealing with the problem. I am cautiously optimistic, because I like the walk, but now I just want to see the walk,"
He said that the Chamber is committed to do whatever it can to move the project forward.The Vision 20/20 is a master plan for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston developed through the joint venture participation of a number of agencies, including the Kingston Restoration Company (KRC) and the JCC. The policy and action plan was completed in 1994.
