MCKENZIE
MAYOR OF Kingston, Desmond McKenzie yesterday objected to the proposed relocation of downtown Kingston residents to facilitate crime fighting, arguing instead for the acceleration of plans to redevelop the heart of the capital.
"Relocation of the residents cannot be the ideal response ... We would be ill-advised to consider the people, rather than the deterioration, as the primary problem," said Mayor McKenzie in a press statement.
"I have been urging central government to become more active in pursuing the $1.4 billion redevelopment programme which was announced by the Prime Minister in August, 2004," he added.
RECENT SUGGESTION
The mayor was reacting to a recent suggestion by Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas, for Government to restore dilapidated buildings and relocate residents from the commercial district in downtown Kingston.
Commissioner Thomas told members of the downtown Kingston Kiwanis Club on Tuesday that a significant amount of crime was committed in these communities because of poor living conditions. Citing the relocation of residents from Railway Lane in Montego Bay, Mr. Thomas said it positively impacted crime fighting.
"I am happy that the issues have gained renewed interest exactly one year later, while we still await its implementation," said Mayor McKenzie.
He disclosed that the $170 million transport centre to be built by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) on behalf of the Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC) has reached the stage where it is about to go to tender.
He revealed too that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation has agreed to the $60 million development of the St. William Grant Park.
Work will commence as soon as the necessary approvals have been granted.
In addition plans for the development of the market area, including the reconstruction of the Jubilee Market, is well advanced, the mayor reported. But he said despite these developments, the comprehensive plan for the development of the capital needed to be placed on a fast track.
Disagreeing with the Commissioner on the proposed relocation of downtown Kingston residents, Mayor McKenzie said there was ample space downtown to create housing solutions to ease the current overcrowding and create more orderly and hospitable communities.
"I believe that the best possible solution for downtown Kingston is for the Government to realise the urgency of the need to get the city's redevelopment programme, as well as the social development plans which are linked with our staging of the 2007 ICC World Cricket Cup, and to make an immediate start on these projects," said the Mayor.
