By Denise Clarke, Staff Reporter
The Very Rev. Canon Justin Nembhard (second left) blesses the new headquarters of The Gleaner's Western Bureau at 9 King Street, Montego Bay, St. James, yesterday. Looking on (from left) are the Rev. Dr. Richard Keane, head of the St. James Ministers' Fraternal; Custos of Hanover Mrs. Mavis Whitter-King; Garfield Grandison, The Gleaner's Editor-in-Chief; Custos of St. James, Mr. Clarence Nelson, who cut the ribbon officially opening the building; and Mrs. Karin Cooper, The Gleaner's Corporate Affairs Manager. - Noel Thompson Photo
WESTERN BUREAU:
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY will drift away from Jamaica's tourism capital, if the Government does not draft urgent plans for urban renewal, said Winston Dear, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce.
"I worry about the exodus of business from the core of the city," declared Mr. Dear at yesterday's official opening of the Gleaner Company's new Western Bureau headquarters at 9 King Street, Montego Bay, St. James.
"It is no secret that this is caused by poor traffic systems, the absence of parking, congestion on the roads and the absence of sidewalks; dirty roads, poor garbage collection, open storm water drainage channels; and the absence of a proper transport system."
The Chamber president said that this was typical of all important urban areas, including Kingston, Spanish Town, Ocho Rios, May Pen and Mandeville.
Said Mr. Dear: "If the Government does not take urgent action and mandate an agency such as the UDC, which was originally designed as an urban renewal agency, to take immediate action and prepare plans for urban renewal of all these areas, then the urban drift that has already started will accelerate, leaving the core of the cities as ghost towns."
He pointed to the movement of business from the core of Kingston to uptown, noting that this has virtually turned the business district of Kingston into a ghost town. "It is noteworthy that The Gleaner has remained at North Street and helped to preserve the integrity of our capital city. We are particularly vulnerable to the urban blight as Montego Bay is the tourism capital of Jamaica and should not be kept in this condition, even if the justification is to protect and encourage the strengthening of that industry."
According to Mr. Dear, he has placed this issue on the agenda to "demonstrate how important it is to have such large corporations as the Gleaner Company locate their offices within our city core. We as a city must do everything to ensure that you are comfortable with your decision."
Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Cecil Davis, speaking after the Chamber president, gave a commitment from the St. James Parish Council to work with the business community to correct the deficiencies behind the corporate drift from the city of Montego Bay.
"Together with the Parish Council we are going to make significant changes to the quality of life in the city," said Councillor Davis. "All 17 Councillors of the St. James Parish Council take pride in our city and we are going to make sure that the matter is addressed."
On other matters, Mr. Dear lauded The Gleaner for its accuracy and consistency, and for its role in recording Jamaica's history.
"The word of The Gleaner is trusted as fact, regardless of the strata in society or economic circumstances of the people, they believe in The Gleaner. The paper therefore carries with it an awesome responsibility to make sure that your reporting is accurate and true," he said.
Editor-in-Chief Garfield Grandison said the new building will vastly improve the company's coverage of Western Jamaica, and stands as evidence of the company's commitment to expanding its contribution to nation building.
"From this base of operation we will vastly improve our coverage of the successes and the failures of western Jamaica and play an important role in the development of the region. The Gleaner's Western Bureau represents an important link in our bid to improve our service to our customers, our readers, our advertisers," he said.
The Western Bureau presented awards to its top advertisers, subscribers, and agents. The editorial award went to Dr. Anthony Vendryes for his weekly column 'An Ounce of Prevention' appearing in the Cornwall Edition. Cash awards were also presented to five students who are subscribers to the Youth Link and Children's Own magazines.
Scores of customers also took the opportunity to tour the new Gleaner headquarters in the second city and view the operations of the Western Bureau.
