Norman Grindley, Deputy Chief Photographer

Homeless people take a nap in St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston. - Photos by Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer

It's now just weeks before the start of Cricket World Cup 2007, and the St. William Grant Park in downtown Kingston is still one big smelly mess. Several Kingston residents have raised concerns about the park, which has for some time been in shambles. Photographer Norman Grindley visited the park to capture just how it feels to take a stroll inside the once popular attraction.

The first thing that greets you when you step into the park is the overwhelming stench of stale urine that burns your nose as if you were sniffing black pepper. At almost every corner, you will notice a group of homeless people sleeping or just sitting quietly.

As I journeyed around the park, I couldn't avoid stepping in the many streams of urine that were at almost every corner of the park. The once beautiful red brick design of the fence has now been discoloured by urine.

One woman said it was a disgrace to see how the taxi and bus operators and homeless people use the park like one big bathroom.

Neville Anderson, a Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) supervisor, who dispatches buses from the northern side of the park, said he was ashamed to see the condition of the park. "I can't even tell my family to meet me here because the place is so stink. As you get here, your nose start to burn with the smell of urine. The people need a change of attitude to bring back some sanity around here," he said. Mr. Anderson was quick to admit that some of his colleagues also contributed to the problem.

"We have a beautiful building by the chamber of commerce that is provided for us to refresh our selves, but some choose to take the short cut," he noted.

Sex right in the open

Another major concern for visitors to the park is the fact that some homeless people make it a habit of having sex right in the open.

"We can't invite the world to come and see this happening in our capital when the World Cup starts in March," said Mr. Anderson.

George Henry, who has been operating one of the five public lavatories in the park for the last 11 years, shared the same view. "I sweep around the park every morning and I have a hard time sweeping around filth and urine on the sidewalk. I also operate the west lavatories, but have had to close the male section because it needs a complete overhaul," he said.

Men now have to use the bathrooms designated for women. Mr. Henry said the pit in the park has also been overflowing for the last five weeks.

"Inside the female lavatory, you have two toilets with no seats on them. The wall is dirty and the floor is filthy," he said.

Left: A man relieves himself outside the St. William Grant Park, downtown Kingston.   Right: One of the toilets in a public lavatory in St. William Grant Park.