Wipers removed from city's streets

Laranzo Dacres, Sunday Gleaner Writer

The Police Traffic Division, headed by Senior Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, lived up to his promise last year to rid the streets of windshield wipers at major intersections across the Corporate Area.

This move was lauded by some Jamaicans, while others expressed concern from a humanitarian viewpoint. Most of the windshield wipers are under-privileged children who expect to be given money for the service which is usually forced on motorists who stop at traffic lights.

"I don"t have any second thoughts about what we have done," said Superintendent Lewis in response to his critics.

Amid doubts that the police could continue to monitor the situation, the Traffic Division continued its sweep across the Corporate Area, which resulted in the detainment of those who defied the rules, sentencing of some to 100 hours of community service and the imposition of fines. In fact, a few weeks into the operation, which was introduced in August last year, more than 80 windshield wipers were reportedly taken off the streets.

On the other hand, the announced plans by the police to rid the streets of downtown Kingston of 'parking thugs' did not materialise. These unauthorised parking attendants charge unsuspecting motorists between $50 and $100 to park in no-parking zones.

Superintendent Steve McGregor, head of Kingston Central's Street Crime Unit, had announced that they would arrest the thugs. However, the year ended without any reported action being taken by the police and the parking thugs remained in business, primarily along Orange and King streets.

In the meantime, the mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, pointed out that the KSAC had began talks with a US-based company to install parking meters throughout the city, which would eventually render the parking thugs irrelevant.

• ATL Automotives opens 'haus'

Montego Bay, Jamaica's second city, took centre stage last November when ATL Automotives Limited hosted the official opening of its branch at Bogue City Centre.

The occasion brought out Jamaica's "who's who", ranging from government officials, business leaders and company executives to beauty queens and preferred customers.

The new US$4.25m state-of-the-art sales and service facility is the home of the Audi, Range Rover, Land Rover, Jaguar, Volkswagen and Honda brands.

"We wanted to open a First-World facility and this one is as good as money can buy," said Adam Stewart, deputy chairman of ATL Automotives Ltd.

He said clients based in western Jamaica would now be able to benefit from the company's strategic location.

"So, you don't have to drive all the way to Kingston to get your car serviced. I can't tell you how many people have called to say: "Thank you for your show of confidence in Montego Bay", Stewart said.

The sales and service centres occupy a quarter-acre and one and a half-acre space, respectively, and employ a total of 38 trained staffers.

"All our technicians for our various brands are trained at level four, which is the highest level in the field," he said. "There is nothing else in Jamaica like this."

- Brian Bonitto