Jamaica in the doldrums regarding general maintenance

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Time and time again, what should be a routine maintenance activity becomes a national concern of extreme urgency based on prevailing (and usually predictable) circumstances. A prime example is drain maintenance of the Sandy Gully in Kingston and the North and South Gullies in Montego Bay and others; and when the storm season comes, urgency and panic prevail. A major contributor to the problem is the use of drains as garbage dumps, which demands serious attention. However, this consideration does not diminish the general unreliability and inconsistency of maintenance in Jamaica.

Other areas of deficient maintenance abound, and recently, Lena McCalla Njee asked “who is responsible for maintaining the clocks”, in a letter in which she mentioned the Half- Way Tree (HWT) and Old Harbour clocks.

Depending on the sighting, the Half-Way Tree branch of the National Commercial Bank is located in front, behind, or beside, the HWT clock, which has been out of commission for years, and it would be good if the NCB adopted the clock, revived its functionality, and maintained it. A renovated clock, even more than its utilitarian value, would add tremendously to the area’s ambience as a restored cultural icon.

Although it is currently functional, another of the many areas demanding ongoing attention is Emancipation Park. The regular and consistent overcrowding at this recreational facility speaks louder than any thunderstorm to the need for more established and regulated green space in the city.

The park is located in the immediate vicinity of the Pegasus, Courtyard Marriott, and Courtleigh hotels, and is in fact surrounded by them. The suggestion here is that these three hotels, who also benefit from being able to provide guests with a nearby recreational park, should assume the voluntary role of contributing substantially to the park’s maintenance.

DAVID ABRIKIAN