Hilary Robertson-Hickling
I WAS born in Montego Bay more than a half century ago. My mother was a librarian and my father worked with the railway. My family has had various connections to the town as my mother had attended Montego Bay High and told me of the issues of colour, race and class which had been associated with the town at that time.
For many years, I have been thinking about my birthplace and wondering how it has continued to tolerate abject poverty and obscene wealth functioning side by side.
To be very honest, I am ambivalent about the town, the inordinate delays in traffic, the garbage on the streets and the seeming chaos which reigns. Is this a classic unplanned city daily burgeoning with the kind of settlements which are constantly in the news? From discussions with my parents and others who have known the town for a while, there is evidence that the two faces have always been there.
NO COLLECTIVE VISION
I remember that there was a beautiful orchid house at the library, but I know that it is gone and that there is still not a proper park for Jamaicans and visitors to sit and enjoy the beauty which is there. In spite of so many prominent citizens coming from the city, it would appear that there has never been a collective vision to drive the development of the town. Individuals like Mrs. Delsie Wisdom of blessed memory whose basic school I attended at Railway Lane have done good things, but collective efforts have been limited. Daily conflicts between politicians, businessmen, hoteliers, craft vendors remind us that the will to transform the city is not there.
At the same time Virgin Airlines is flying into the airport signalling new opportunities for the city and the country, the Stone Crusher gang is terrorising Norwood. It would appear that the members of the gang, who are between 18-36 years, represent development gone wrong. For many years, I attended Sunsplash, but it could not find a permanent home; I thought that one day we could have the equivalent of Montreux, where the famous jazz festival is held.
USE CRISIS AS OPPORTUNITY
I hope that sanity will prevail and that Sam Sharpe's sacrifice and contribution will not be overwhelmed by neglect, dirt and the conflict which is so pervasive in the town and country. A recent television programme explored the concerns of the citizens and solicited their suggestions. The police are doing their best in a very difficult situation, but something else has to be done. There had been discussion and development of the city plan, but I do not know what has become of the plan. Let us use the current crisis as an opportunity.
The Hip Strip cannot be sustainable with so much squalor and crime so near by . Perhaps Montego Bay could develop around the slogan 'One City, One All Inclusive City'. More work, more educational, more planned development so that not only some citizens will be rich but the town will be rich. Maybe it is time for a reunion of all Montegonians and well-wishers to work to solve the problems.
Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer in the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Mona.
