Vitruvius, ContributorTHE BUSINESSMEN of downtown have formulated and presented a plan to the Government. In turn, the Government has formed yet another committee to review the plan. And the Opposition has done what they do - oppose.
But I do agree, to a point, with Opposition Leader Edward Seaga's comment made in an article, that any plan that requires so much security is inherently flawed.
The fact is that if the development of downtown is to happen, then the development of the residential areas must happen first or precisely at the same time, with the priority being the residences. Without that approach, the battle will rage on.
One of our problems is we think Jamaica is so unique that our conditions do not exist anywhere else. Not so. There are places where it has been worse, places that are the same and places where it has been made better. We do not have to reinvent the wheel.
Examples abound in Latin America and in Africa. I have made mention before of one of the largest markets in the world, Khan el-Khalili in Cairo. Wonderfully dense and chaotic. A maze of alleys and stalls. Yes, crime exists, but that market is a major tourist attraction. Downtown Kingston can be too. Here is my plan, which I am a sure is a lot less complicated than the business plan.
Conduct a physical inventory and identify land ownership, absentee owners and landlords, and land taxpayers in arrears.
Demolish all derelict structures in Jones Town, Allman Town, and Southside. Include in that the buildings from Heroes Circle southward to the harbour. I suggest Trench Town and Tivoli as well, but that may be wishful thinking.
Landscape most cleared areas. Turf, grass, and some trees are all that is needed. Include a minimum of hard surface. Mini design competitions for each could be held. This would encourage professional involvement.
Use some of the cleared areas to build new housing or serviced lots to be made available to people in the area. Their labour for equity. Standards for any other housing development to be observed, such as spaces, amenity, heights. In other words, stop treating poor people that need homes as animals in pens.
Redefine the market district as a larger area.
Put in adequate and properly designed waste management and sewage facilities. The existing public lavatories are wholly insufficient.
Designate the entire or a large part of the market district as a no drive zone.
Relocate the bus depot from around parade. Possibly create two.
Remove taxis from illegal parking areas and assign an area for them. Especially, away from the Ward Theatre.
Do have security to control illegal vending.
I admit that I do not have a copy of the proposal sent to Government. However, the fact that Mr. Seaga, who is also Member of Parliament for West Kingston, could raise the issue of the residents' non-inclusion and the response was the issue was included but not clearly defined, means that the angle focused on by the proposal is flawed.
No worry, it can be fixed. The most important thing is that something be done now to send a clear message that this isn't just another plan.
E-mail: vitsangle@yahoo.com.
