Hilary Robertson-Hickling
On my weekly journey to Scots Kirk United Church, I have the opportunity to think about the Easter story as well as the possibilities of resurrection for the city of Kingston particularly that part which is below Cross Roads. Observation of overcrowded tenement yards, dilapidated buildings and once grand offices now reduced to rubble; beautiful buildings needing a facelift, and a general feeling that without new life this death is permanent.
It is not surprising that the much hoped for revival occasioned by Cricket World Cup 2007 is slow in coming. It is not surprising that as one newspaper report suggests selling commercial real estate in downtown Kingston is difficult.
Kingston's origins are, according to the famous British geographer Colin Clarke, beset by conflicts between the merchants, the politicians and others about its development. This has for example resulted in the area east of the parade being better developed in terms of civic buildings, churches and the Institute of Jamaica. As I sat outside the Institute enjoying the recent Musgrave Award ceremony, I wondered what we would need to see that the heart of the city needs to be redeveloped.
Successful development
Clarke's monumental work of Kingston, 'Jamaica urban development and social change 1692-2002' which was ably reviewed by Hartley Neita, concludes that Kingston has developed in a haphazard manner. We have well planned sections beside squatter settlements and we do not seem to be able to make and implement successful development plans. Those who moved the commercial centre to New Kingston did not think about a number of things including the space for growth, places for parking, and sanitary conveniences. At one time in the 1970s it had been decided that mixed land use would have been the order of the day in New Kingston but, alas, that did not happen. After working hours certain parts of New Kingston are empty except for vagrants. Much later in the evening only night clubs are open. there needs to be a much healthier land use balance.
I am very pleased that Emanci-pation Park was established and many Jamaicans and visitors are able to enjoy its use. It has to be maintained and the rules that are there must be enforced. The other public parks in Kingston are in a largely deplorable state and I am glad that Hope Gardens will be redeveloped. Unlike our sister city Havana, we cannot claim to be a UNESCO heritage site and you can imagine what that city will look like in a few years.
Many cities or particular parts thereof, have been reborn; East London is the site for the Olympics in a few years, Cardiff has been redeveloped. Baltimore has been redeveloped; so why not Kingston? Although I have heard of plans which addressed particular sections, an overall plan is still to be carefully articulated and implemented. As the song says we need to unite uptown and downtown together into one town.
There are many people who live uptown and have never been downtown, and there are some people from downtown who have never been uptown. That indicates just how much work, dreaming, visioning and transforming we have to do. Imagine if we were able to safely tour Marley's Kingston without worrying about gunshots and all that goes with that. Some years ago we toured Motown in a section of the city of Detroit which has gone through very hard times and is trying to reinvent itself. If Kingston could become Jamaica's cultural capital, so many persons could become employed, we could recover important aspects of our heritage and recover national pride. It is certainly a worthwhile project.
Hilary Robertson-Hickling is a lecturer at the Department of Management Studies, UWI, Mona.
