Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Senator Warren Newby (left), president of G2K, speaks to members of the media during a press briefing at the Jamaica Labour Party's Belmont Road headquarters in New Kingston with vice-presidents Rocky Allen (centre) and Robert Miller on Tuesday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

GENERATION 2000 (G2K), the young professional arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has joined the call for the Office of the Commissioner of Police to be relocated to downtown Kingston.

Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson had announced the plan when the People's National Party (PNP) was in government. The old Jamintel building was earmarked, but the plan was shelved for security concerns.

During a press conference at the JLP's Belmount Road headquarters, to mark G2K's eighth anniversary on Tuesday, Senator Warren Newby, the organisation's president, said it was in full support of the plans for the Commissioner's Office to be relocated.

"The Commissioner's Office should be relocated downtown, possibly on lands at Heroes Circle. This will not only improve consumer and business confidence but also response time to violent outbreaks," Newby said.

If the Commissioner's Office is relocated, it would free up lands along Old Hope Road, a more affluent part of the city, for the building of homes for young professionals. The design for more than 300 housing units on this property has already been done.

It was the second time in recent months that lands at National Heroes Circle have been eyed for major relocation. In October, Prime Minister Bruce Golding suggested National Heroes Circle could be the possible site for a new Parliament building to replace Gordon House on nearby Duke Street.

Without assault firearms

Meanwhile, Newby said G2K envisions a downtown Kingston where, in the near future, police would patrol without assault firearms. He also said it was the view of the G2K that CCTV be placed in strategic locations to monitor movements within the area.

Also as part of its vision for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston, the G2K wants all government minis-tries to be relocated there. Newby said the G2K would like to see significant activity within the next five years, which would point to the willingness of Government to take the bold step.

Several of the plans articulated at the G2K press conference are contained in the JLP manifesto and the G2K said it would be setting up a committee to ensure that the party keeps those pre-election promises.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com