THE EDITOR, Sir:
This an open letter from the citizens of the area surrounding the proposed building site of the US Embassy at Bamboo Pen to: the Town and Country Planning Authority (TCPA), the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), The National Environment & Planning Agency, honorary Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, Members of the Opposition, and any other person or government body involved in granting approval:
Dear Sirs:
THE UNITED States Government (USG), through its Embassy in Kingston, is applying for planning and construction approval to build a multi-storey building and other structures to house all the services of the embassy on the premises of Bamboo Pen. Some of these structures will include a new consulate and quarters for military personnel. These structures violate the restrictive covenants of the area and must not be allowed to be erected in our residential neighbourhood.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed us that by applying for approval and subsequently building, according to that approval, the USG is upholding Article 41 of the Vienna Convention (1961) that governs diplomatic relations and states that diplomatic missions must respect the host country's laws and regulations. They are doing their duty. We as citizens, and you as the authority, must do ours. We therefore appeal to you as fellow Jamaicans, owners of residential homes, and leaders in positions of authority to join us in taking a united stand against this invasion of our privacy and security. Please, do not approve this development. It is an inappropriate development for an already well developed and congested area.
TARGETS OF TERRORISM
Sadly, US Embassies around the world have become the targets of terrorism both pre- and post-September 11, 2001. In response to this, the USG has seen it fit to encase these embassies within single multi-building complexes with heightened security measures. Whilst we fully understand her need to protect herself, we do not wish to become the targets of her protection measures. The perimeter bomb-deflecting devices will deflect bombs onto our residential communities and we do not wish to become slaughtered innocents or to be used as human shields. This type of development will change the face of our community and our individual lives forever.
In her effort to protect herself, has America lost sight of our own need for protection and the right to continue to enjoy what our laws should protect us from? Why should we be subjected to congestion and traffic chaos, due to security car inspections and the re-routing of traffic? How are we to cope with illegal parking, unsightly shacks, vending, indecent behaviour, and raised noise levels in our neighbourhood, especially to the west, south and eastern boundaries of the site? Why should Jamaica's zoning and density regulations be changed to accommodate America's desires without any regard for the law-abiding wishes of the citizens who live in the community?
How can this development have been approved "in principle" without ever consulting or respecting the objections of citizens which were formally made in advance of this sanction? Could this be why the US Embassy began work without official approval - because she knows that she will get it? We implore you to do the right thing now.
The area in which the proposed US Embassy buildings are to be erected is zoned for a maximum of two floors. We understand that the proposed new building will be 3 1/2 to 4 storeys high. This will be a serious attack on our privacy as the occupants of that elevated structure will be looking down on our private homes, regardless of how far the set backs will be. The Embassy's electronic security equipment, including cameras, will also be located on the roof of this elevated building and so we anticipate the inevitable intrusion not only of visual privacy but also of our lives through electronic monitoring. The social impact of this invasive development will therefore not only affect our immediate community physically, but psychologically at an individual level.
INCREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION
How will we be able to cope with increased traffic congestion in this well populated area, an area into which traffic flows from Hardware Gap, Newcastle, Irish Town, Gordon Town, Papine, Hope Pastures, August Town, Mona, Long Mountain Heights, Karachi, Wellington, Ottawa and Bamboo Avenues, Canberra Crescent, Munroe Road, Old Hope Road, all of Liguanea and Barbican areas; home to more than 32,000 people. An area that also feeds into our University of the West Indies and University of Technology from all areas of the city and many rural areas, all day every day. An area that needs easy access to the University of the West Indies Hospital. Already about 1200 more vehicles are expected to ply at least twice per day to and from the ruinous development at Long Mountain Range and in addition we are now to accommodate 200 or more Embassy staff members. How can this be feasible? Why are we compromising our laws, our regulations, our traffic flows and our citizens for something that so obviously does not belong in this neighbourhood? If it did, the need to compromise, with shuttle services of the USG staff and the public would never present itself. Furthermore, the construction plans do not provide for public parking for visa applicants. How will this be handled in our culture where busy individuals will not heed instructions to park at remote satellite locations and be bussed in because they will find it much more convenient to park illegally on our roads, thus further adding to traffic congestion?
The area we call home will become nothing but a bomb shelter, a transportation hazard and a residential eyesore. In the coming weeks TCPA and KSAC have the power to do the right thing in this situation and not approve any aspect of the USG construction plans that truly are ruinous to our country. The visa section, the parking situation, the traffic problem that will ensue and the threat of terrorism are all untenable aspects of their proposal and our concerns about these issues should be duly noted and addressed before any approval is given, not just because our homes will be affected but because the lives of all Jamaicans will be affected, whether directly because of no access to the University Hospital, or indirectly because of the dangerous precedent this approval will set.
SEEK AN ALTERNATE PROPERTY
We appeal to the Embassy to seek an alternate property that will better accommodate traffic flows and parking and provide the high level of security it needs, without intrusion on us or any other residential community. We appeal also for similar respect to be shown for our wishes as was shown by the USG when its plans to construct a similar Embassy building in a residential neighbourhood in Ottawa, Canada, were aborted due to the objections and protests of citizens of that community. Residential homes for US staff members would be welcome on the three parcels of land that have restrictive covenants, and non-commercial buildings with sufficient parking on the other three parcels of land would be quite appropriate.
We urgently appeal to all concerned to consider our plight! It is an appalling thought to consider the disruption that permitting the construction as proposed could create; the degradation that could ensue. We call upon the 'powers that be' to not ignore our petition but to honour the citizens of this and every Jamaican community by preventing any further damage to our neighbourhood. We wish to emphasise that we harbour no anti-American feelings. But we, who have worked hard all our lives to finally own and leave a legacy for our families and retire in peace, feel strongly that we must defend our right to privacy, tranquillity, security and ease of access to our homes, offices, hospitals, schools and universities, shopping area, gas stations, bus stops etc. We trust you will honour the vision statement of the National Environment and Planning Agency which calls for 'extensive participation amongst citizens and a high level of compliance to relevant legislation'. We are doing our duty as concerned citizens and we look to you now to do yours.
We are, etc.,
Citizens of Mona, Karachi, Wellington
Drive, Munroe Road,
Canberra Cres., Bamboo Ave. and
Ottawa Ave, Liguanea,
Irish Town.
Liguanea, Kingston 6
Via Go-Jamaica
