EDITORIAL - Uneasy about Up Park Camp proposal

We have not arrived at a definitive position on the matter, but confess, like Opposition Leader, Mrs Portia Simpson Miller, to having deep unease over the Government's intention to move the headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) from Up Park to the Caymanas lands in St Catherine.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding laid his plan to move the army headquarters this week, when he contributed to a debate in the House to increase tax incentives for real-estate investment in downtown Kingston as part of a renewed effort at urban renewal.

This newspaper gives its broad endorsement to that project, for which we have aggressively campaigned, including insisting on the halt of the trek uptown by government ministries and agencies, and calling for those who have left to return to the old section of the capital.

Full of history

Indeed, in most other cities downtown Kingston would be prime real estate. It is on a waterfront that happens to be the world's seventh-largest natural harbour. And it is full of history.

It is unfortunate that we have allowed it to grow, hard, grubby and crime-infested - all the symptoms of urban decay. We, however, are in no doubt about the possibilities of downtown and nearby areas and communities, in which already exist some of the basic infrastructure and housing stock that can be rehabilitated.

Our worry, though, is that urban renewal might become something of a code for throwing out all that is old for new, shiny structures, assuming that we can afford them. We fear, too, that that process includes starting history anew.

Up Park Camp, just to the northeast of downtown Kingston, now comprises more than 220 acres. It once comprised more than 600 acres, but has lost much of this over many years.

One thing, however, has been constant for two and a quarter centuries - since 1784, Up Park Camp has been an army facility.

Mr Golding said that over 400 acres of land at Caymanas have already been transferred to the JDF, which will allow for the "freeing up of 270 acres of land sitting in the middle of the city" which can be used to "retrofit Kingston".

We, of course, want Kingston retrofitted. We nonetheless worry about losing landmarks, our heritage and our sense of history.

We are yet to be convinced that this retrofitting can't take place without having to trade Up Park Camp for it. We would wish to hear the arguments of the urban planners, historians and heritage experts on this matter.

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