John Thompson (second left), chairman of Hope Gardens Redevelopment Nature Preservation Foundation, shows how the upgraded fountain at Hope Gardens will look to Harry Smith (right), chairman of the Digicel Foundation; Marlene Carr (second right), a director of the foundation; and Karl Binger, executive director of the Nature Preservation Foundation. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
THE MORE than 130-year-old Hope Gardens, which has been neglected over the years, was given new hope yesterday with the injection of $10 million by the Digicel Foundation to help in its rehabilitation.
Digicel Foundation Chairman Harry Smith said yesterday that $8.3 million would be used to rehabilitate the Hope Gardens fountain as part of the newest charity venture of the five-year-old telecommunications company. He was speaking at the official launch of the Hope Gardens Restoration project at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew.
The money will also be used to rehabilitate the gardens in close proximity to the fountain.
The Digicel Foundation will also be rehabilitating the Hope Shell Bandstand, which is
situated close to the zoo. The rehabilitation work will include the repairing of the amphitheatre and the painting and restoring of electrical power to the structure.
Digicel will also be spearheading a dial-in programme, which will enable Jamaicans from all walks of life to call or text in, to show their support for the Hope Gardens Restoration Project. Proceeds from the calls and texts will go towards the rehabilitation of Hope Gardens.
The work is expected to commence within two weeks and should be completed in time for Cricket World Cup 2007.
Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie, while giving the official welcome, said all fees for building permissions would be waived by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC), as part of its contribution to the restoration of the facility.
But Digicel's contribution and the KSAC's waiver were only a drop in the bucket, as the sprawling green space needs at least $242 million over the next five years to carry out the management of the property.
John Thompson, chairman of Nature Preservation Foundation, which is spearheading the restoration of the Gardens, said the Foundation had major development plans for the facility.
Mr. Thompson said that, among the plans, was the expansion of the zoo from 17 acres to 64 acres of land, which will also take in part of the Mico Dam, which will remain a wetland area where the flora and fauna will be left to develop naturally.
"So the Hope Zoo in the future will be better able to serve the public as a learning experience and not simple as an entertainment place. We want to build a true zoo," he said.
Mr. Thompson said he will include a long term plan to create three main habitat areas, which include the Jamaican paradise, which will house endemic Jamaican animals such as the hummingbird.
