TODAY, I want to discuss the need to clean up Spanish Town Road urgently. Also, I want to ask the National Water Commission (NWC) if they haven't noticed the dreadful stench pervading the area around lower Duke Street and Harbour Street in downtown Kingston.
While I'm at it, I must ask why the much-vaunted renewal of downtown Kingston is proceeding at such a dead slow-stop pace — any self-respecting snail would have left the track long ago. Then, there's the matter of how beautifully renovated the Kingston Craft Market is and how not one buyer was seen there in all the time of my visit, last Friday.
I should be able to wade into these right away but there's the bigger issue of politics and politicians. I convinced myself that this was not a national election, but rather an internal matter, so I avoided getting entangled in the web of controversy — of course I know. The party has been an important link in the chain of Jamaican life for the last seven decades. It cannot be denied, however, that it has been
haunted by epidemics of internal squabbling which has turned off many bystanders.
In the circumstance, it seemed best for me not to buy out what was essentially a family argument. So, I reserved judgement and watched the ups and downs. I maintained that it was their business, not mine, even if it would eventually affect the whole nation.
So, forgive me then, if I did not join the parade of analysis and pre-occupation with an issue which, as far as I'm concerned, will have to be decided by "to whom it may concern". The daily reports of continued internal wrangling demonstrate the challenge of leadership and the price which followers — and the nation — could pay eventually. All we can do is hope for the best and ask after the family feud, what?
On to other matters... like the appalling state of Spanish Town Road. I consider myself a tough one when it comes to my city — Kingston. I have never been afraid of downtown. I know about the crowds and the traffic and the explosive way downtowners can respond when challenged. I'm not intimidated by Spanish Town Road, but I have to admit that when conditions appear as wretched as they did last Friday, doubts came flooding in. Are we serious about saving our capital city?
From the time you turn on Beckford Street, heading west, you are struck by the confusion, the overwhelming disorder of people doing exactly what they want, whether others like it or not. Food items were facing possible contamination from exposure to the elements, and the boiling-hot soup pot dangerously poised at the edge of the road raised questions of what could happen if it were to come crashing down. Altogether, it was overwhelming.
Dirty water still clogged the gutters at the intersections between the main road and side streets where only divine providence is holding up dilapidated buildings. Despite the bright paint, which was used to mask the ugliness of newer but no less questionable structures, Spanish Town Road still screams out to be tamed (not suppressed). No dream of miraculous development and economic growth — the buzzwords of the day — can be maintained if plans for a renewed downtown do not tackle the scourge of ugliness which is choking a thoroughfare like Spanish Town Road, a major and historic link in and out of the city. It doesn't have to be gentrified and sanitised to the point where it loses its flavour and its viability, but if we expect better, then we have to make better come to pass.
The travesty about the concept of a renewed inner city, as far as I'm concerned, is that even the most enthusiastic supporters of the idea seem completely unaware of the historic value of sections of our capital. It is hard to see beyond the current squalor. Spanish Town Road and the streets around all have some positive history, despite the burden of violence and decay. Is this being taken into consideration for real restoration?
Some seem to think it is only selected neighbourhoods which make up downtown. We know that there are the good, the bad and the ugly. Which ones will be favoured with gentrification, and then what will we do with the others from where the smells of poverty emanate and the gutter water will not stop flowing? Serious ting.
The other matter which I want to bring to your attention is the Kingston Crafts Market. Having gone through a period of neglect and decay, surviving the ravages of fire and flood, the old building in which it was housed has now been repaired and renewed. A sparkling new interior and exterior now greets visitors and home-folks alike. Sadly, what is missing is a vital ingredient... shoppers to enjoy the bright offerings. Last Friday, when I went to "pay respects", having been on the case (for I don't know how long), there was not a customer in sight. The vendors wore the look of abandonment. Now, it is not the environment they complain about, but the lack of business, which is threatening their existence.
There are enough agencies of government and elsewhere which could be assigned to help develop an appropriate marketing programme for a facility into which public funds are invested. There's a lot of 'mouth-running' about entrepreneurship and wealth-making these days. Now, who will help the Kingston craft market vendors, who have endured years of marginalisation, to get a foot on to the prosperity ladder everybody else wants to climb?
What is sad about the present situation is that the range of items, especially those adorned with our patriotic colours and designs, are of good quality and reasonable prices. The possibility for expansion of our traditional crafts, the re-introduction of dressmakers, tailors and other crafts persons is worth encouraging. This could be the long-awaited renaissance.
As to the sewage odour downtown, where does the NWC stand on that issue at the moment? It would be good for the business which we're trying to lure back to downtown if this could be tackled with appropriate energy. I've heard about the challenge of removing the old clay pipes which run beneath some of our city streets, causing problems for the NWC. Whatever it takes, however, something has to be done to replace and retrofit. Failing that, the investors, when they come and if they come, won't be happy.
ELSEWHERE: "Puss and Dawg nuh have the same luck." Can you imagine the response which would come from the Diaspora if a mayor of any Jamaican town had behaved like the Mayor of T'ronno? From crack-smoking to drunk-a'ready, to selling toys (dollies) — allegedly for charity — while declaring that he has no intention of stepping down from the public office, whose name he has tarnished. What did I tell you? There are people out there far-far worse than any of us here, but to hear some of our family abroad tell it, especially via social media, we are the "worsest". Look me in the eye and say so!
gloudonb@yahoo.com
After family feud, what?
-->
While I'm at it, I must ask why the much-vaunted renewal of downtown Kingston is proceeding at such a dead slow-stop pace — any self-respecting snail would have left the track long ago. Then, there's the matter of how beautifully renovated the Kingston Craft Market is and how not one buyer was seen there in all the time of my visit, last Friday.
I should be able to wade into these right away but there's the bigger issue of politics and politicians. I convinced myself that this was not a national election, but rather an internal matter, so I avoided getting entangled in the web of controversy — of course I know. The party has been an important link in the chain of Jamaican life for the last seven decades. It cannot be denied, however, that it has been
haunted by epidemics of internal squabbling which has turned off many bystanders.
In the circumstance, it seemed best for me not to buy out what was essentially a family argument. So, I reserved judgement and watched the ups and downs. I maintained that it was their business, not mine, even if it would eventually affect the whole nation.
So, forgive me then, if I did not join the parade of analysis and pre-occupation with an issue which, as far as I'm concerned, will have to be decided by "to whom it may concern". The daily reports of continued internal wrangling demonstrate the challenge of leadership and the price which followers — and the nation — could pay eventually. All we can do is hope for the best and ask after the family feud, what?
On to other matters... like the appalling state of Spanish Town Road. I consider myself a tough one when it comes to my city — Kingston. I have never been afraid of downtown. I know about the crowds and the traffic and the explosive way downtowners can respond when challenged. I'm not intimidated by Spanish Town Road, but I have to admit that when conditions appear as wretched as they did last Friday, doubts came flooding in. Are we serious about saving our capital city?
From the time you turn on Beckford Street, heading west, you are struck by the confusion, the overwhelming disorder of people doing exactly what they want, whether others like it or not. Food items were facing possible contamination from exposure to the elements, and the boiling-hot soup pot dangerously poised at the edge of the road raised questions of what could happen if it were to come crashing down. Altogether, it was overwhelming.
Dirty water still clogged the gutters at the intersections between the main road and side streets where only divine providence is holding up dilapidated buildings. Despite the bright paint, which was used to mask the ugliness of newer but no less questionable structures, Spanish Town Road still screams out to be tamed (not suppressed). No dream of miraculous development and economic growth — the buzzwords of the day — can be maintained if plans for a renewed downtown do not tackle the scourge of ugliness which is choking a thoroughfare like Spanish Town Road, a major and historic link in and out of the city. It doesn't have to be gentrified and sanitised to the point where it loses its flavour and its viability, but if we expect better, then we have to make better come to pass.
The travesty about the concept of a renewed inner city, as far as I'm concerned, is that even the most enthusiastic supporters of the idea seem completely unaware of the historic value of sections of our capital. It is hard to see beyond the current squalor. Spanish Town Road and the streets around all have some positive history, despite the burden of violence and decay. Is this being taken into consideration for real restoration?
Some seem to think it is only selected neighbourhoods which make up downtown. We know that there are the good, the bad and the ugly. Which ones will be favoured with gentrification, and then what will we do with the others from where the smells of poverty emanate and the gutter water will not stop flowing? Serious ting.
The other matter which I want to bring to your attention is the Kingston Crafts Market. Having gone through a period of neglect and decay, surviving the ravages of fire and flood, the old building in which it was housed has now been repaired and renewed. A sparkling new interior and exterior now greets visitors and home-folks alike. Sadly, what is missing is a vital ingredient... shoppers to enjoy the bright offerings. Last Friday, when I went to "pay respects", having been on the case (for I don't know how long), there was not a customer in sight. The vendors wore the look of abandonment. Now, it is not the environment they complain about, but the lack of business, which is threatening their existence.
There are enough agencies of government and elsewhere which could be assigned to help develop an appropriate marketing programme for a facility into which public funds are invested. There's a lot of 'mouth-running' about entrepreneurship and wealth-making these days. Now, who will help the Kingston craft market vendors, who have endured years of marginalisation, to get a foot on to the prosperity ladder everybody else wants to climb?
What is sad about the present situation is that the range of items, especially those adorned with our patriotic colours and designs, are of good quality and reasonable prices. The possibility for expansion of our traditional crafts, the re-introduction of dressmakers, tailors and other crafts persons is worth encouraging. This could be the long-awaited renaissance.
As to the sewage odour downtown, where does the NWC stand on that issue at the moment? It would be good for the business which we're trying to lure back to downtown if this could be tackled with appropriate energy. I've heard about the challenge of removing the old clay pipes which run beneath some of our city streets, causing problems for the NWC. Whatever it takes, however, something has to be done to replace and retrofit. Failing that, the investors, when they come and if they come, won't be happy.
ELSEWHERE: "Puss and Dawg nuh have the same luck." Can you imagine the response which would come from the Diaspora if a mayor of any Jamaican town had behaved like the Mayor of T'ronno? From crack-smoking to drunk-a'ready, to selling toys (dollies) — allegedly for charity — while declaring that he has no intention of stepping down from the public office, whose name he has tarnished. What did I tell you? There are people out there far-far worse than any of us here, but to hear some of our family abroad tell it, especially via social media, we are the "worsest". Look me in the eye and say so!
gloudonb@yahoo.com
After family feud, what?
-->