Dennie Quill, Contributor

Last week I started a commentary on government waste that I hope would stir citizens and officialdom into tackling some of the problems that continue to stifle our development. Today I want to draw attention to the blight of downtown Kingston, and I intend to demonstrate that the Government is a major contributor to the abandonment of our once vibrant downtown.

There is a stately building on Barry Street, which is distinguished by a nostalgic style reminiscent of the early 20th century. This structure, which falls within the key 'circle of judicial buildings', was built around 1911. It was once home to the Attorney-general's Department. This is the department responsible for advising government ministries and departments on legislation and legal questions, and represents Government in civil litigations. Today the Attorney-General and his staff are securely ensconced in Michael Lee Chin's Mutual Life building uptown, where the air is cleaner and the living is better. But what is the economic impact of such a move, one wonders?

Drug addicts and vagrants

Earlier this week I drove by Barry Street to discover that the once-elegant building is in shambles. Broken glass and garbage competed for my attention. The building is unsecured. I spoke to a man about town, and he told me that the building is now overrun by drug addicts and vagrants. This is where they call home. From the face of it, the building should be declared a public nuisance. One assumes there were compelling reasons for the Attorney-General and his staff to make the move, but had a private sector company that has a fiduciary duty to its shareholders owned the property, it would have been refurbished and rented to tenants or sold to the highest bidder.

But this is Government and it does not take seriously its fiduciary duty.

Surely, there must be some action that could be taken against the Government for such mismanagement? Located strategically within walking distance of the Supreme Court, I can think of some lawyers who would gladly offer their pinky to be based in such a building. But this is government property, it can be abandoned, and after the Attorney-General turned off the lights, he needs not take a backward glance. And the cost of government continues to be an albatross around the neck of its citizens.

The exodus from downtown did not begin with the Attorney- General's Department. The ministries of National Security and Justice were among the head starters. Downtown Kingston is part of our heritage, the character of Kingston defines us as a people, and right now downtown Kingston is an endangered neighbourhood, and the death knell may have already sounded. This explains why the 'for sale' sign remains fastened to the former Workers Bank building on Tower Street.

There is little economic vitality left in downtown Kingston. Various private sector initiatives to revitalise downtown have come to naught. But where is the leadership from the Government? What prudent individual abandons his house to become someone's tenant? That is essentially what has happened, and in the meantime the owned property is left to rot. How about ensuring that key government departments and agencies are sited downtown? How about offering incentives for the demolition of dangerous and abandoned properties? And would there be no takers if residential tax abatement were offered over, say, 10 years?

Jamaica is set to embark on a 25-year National Development Plan to be driven by the Planning Institute of Jamaica. Yes, another development plan is in the making, and this one is expected to place the country in a position to achieve developed status by 2030. Many of us will be long gone by then but I can't help citing the old adage 'woeful waste makes woeful wants'.

We can achieve no real development of the country if we do not understand what downtown Kingston means to our future. It should be protected and strengthened, not abandoned. As long as downtown continues to be a dirty place, choking on garbage and overrun by criminals and touts, it will not see that renaissance which it sorely needs. We have been at a crossroads in meeting the challenges of downtown Kingston for a mighty long time.