By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterMAYOR OF Kingston, Desmond McKenzie has failed to deliver on his pledge to the disabled community that he would provide parking stickers that would permit them to park their vehicles anywhere in the Corporate Area.
Late last month, Mayor McKenzie boldly announced that by mid-August the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) would have the stickers ready and available.
The stipulated time line came and went and the disabled, who drive, are still without the stickers but not without the parking problems they face.
Efforts to get a comment from the Mayor since late last week were unsuccessful. Still, members of the disabled community told The Gleaner that they are not mad at the Mayor.
"We believe he is trying his best to see how he can address these problems. I am of that opinion and most disabled persons that met with him have that opinion," said Barbara McKoy, vice-chairperson of the Combined Disabilities Association Limited.
EXAMPLE
"He did say by mid-August and we have had evidence that he has been working on it," she added. Ms. McKoy revealed that the Mayor convened a meeting almost two weeks ago where he brought an example of the sticker and also solicited suggestions from the disabled community so as to improve it or make it more to their liking.
"We are still trying to work that out, we are scheduled to have another meeting to make final arrangements on exactly when and how the whole thing will be coming on stream," explained Ms. McKoy.
DECISION
The decision to provide the stickers came about after Mr. McKenzie was invited to a monthly rap session hosted by the disabled community where he was brought into intimate contact with the issues being faced by the physically challenged.
Mayor McKenzie was moved. He said he had heard of their vehicles being towed and of the tickets they received for parking in no parking areas in an attempt to gain access to certain establishments. As a result the decision was taken to try and aid their plight by providing the parking stickers. 'I was very hurt as a representative of the people to know that people who are physically disabled are finding it so difficult within our city to move around,' the Mayor said last month.
