The Editor, Sir:
I was moved to write this piece having read two articles in the Gleaner of August 15. The first, a letter entitled, "Give us a vision, Mr. PM" and the second on the editorial page
entitled, "Preserving the Palisadoes."
The Palisadoes strip is a fragile piece of land, beautiful from land, sea and air. It is a wonderful location from which to view our capital city, a place from which Jamaican moments are remembered as we depart these shores or return from places abroad. Anyone who has returned to Kingston at dusk and not marvelled at the beauty of the setting between the calm waters of the harbour and the majesty of the Blue Mountains, lacks a soul. It is wonderfully located just sufficiently to one edge to feel outside the city's hustle, bustle, fumes and noise yet near enough to feel a part of it. The distance of a lingering friendship, unnurtured but unwilling to die.
The strip connects many Kingstonian's literally and metaphorically to our place of domicile, we care for it like we would our kin. After each storm we visit with concern and lament the deterioration of the natural defences.
Many residents go fishing in the harbour along the strip, fishing I suspect as much for the peace of their souls as for food to eat. Many go with their children as I did as a child with family members to walk or picnic by the open seaside or to swim at 'Gunboat Beach' within the harbour.
Much of governance is about caring for what we have, what we have inherited from the past. It behoves us to understand that we are on this earth really as custodians for those who follow and we therefore must be careful not to leave this place worse than we found it.
Tearing down is easy, it requires little imagination, education or effort; building on the other hand requires imagination first and foremost, then knowledge, then skill all covered with lashings of integrity. It is not important to know all things, but a wise person knows what they know and what they don't and will seek assistance from those who do in areas of weakness. Again, not from those who say they know often close associates but those with a proven track record in the field of endeavour. Even when we know a second considered opinion often tempers judgement.
business
Sections of the Palisadoes have been considered for use as many things including a freezone and a place for tourism expansion with hotels and other attractions all to benefit the few and destroy the ecology of the area.
Let me make another suggestion the area should be made into Kingston's first National Park and placed under the control of an NGO with a clearly written mandate to preserve it indeed reinforce it if necessary for the future enjoyment of all the residents of Kingston. The areas to be included should be designated as in the UDC designation orders and not left ambiguous for future persons to exploit.
This is a small vision, but as our town Kingston "densifies" into a true city, forward planning is needed to make life in the city not just bearable but pleasant for those to come.
entities on the strip
I have not spoken of the airport, Port Royal, The Maritime Institute, Morgan's Harbour Hotel, The Yacht Club or many other entities which currently occupy the strip. Of course they should be consulted before proceeding but I daresay would be wise enough to see the long term benefits for themselves and the greater good of the city's residents.
Then, of course, we need to preserve the view from the strip i.e. the Blue Mountains, but that is for another article or for others to take up.
I am, etc.,
lmarkt53@yahoo.co.uk]
The Caribbean School of
Architecture
University of Technology
Kingston
