JCC urges for cohesive approach to downtown Kingston redevelopment plans

The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) is bemoaning the lack of a cohesive approach toward plans for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston.

According to the JCC, there is currently an absence of "a well thought-out, comprehensive and coordinated" plan.

"While it is clear, based on the degree of investments taking place adjacent to the waterfront, that there is significant action underway, the JCC has seen little evidence that this action is taking place in a well thought-out, comprehensive and coordinated manner," the JCC said in a statement issued this morning.  

Based on its assessment, the JCC said "ownership of the process has been split along too many lines and that it is well past due for us to focus and consolidate those efforts".

And the umbrella business group said after meetings with chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams, and the Urban Development Corporation, which both have responsibility for executing aspects of the redevelopment plan, it's clear that "by and large the visions and actual plans to which we were made privy, were virtually silo-like in their effect."

The JCC stressed further that "there was very little evidence that the cross-cutting issues, particularly those related to such basic questions as sewage, garbage collection, social interventions, indiscipline (as seen in the de facto take-over of sections of several streets for vending) were considered in a holistic manner".

The JCC said it could not champion the redevelopment plans in light of the issues outlined. However, the business group said it was prepared to play its part in bringing together a coalition to execute the plans in a cohesive way.

"We are prepared to play our part in bringing such a coalition together otherwise we stand the chance of creating what amounts to little more than a two-block façade adjacent to the waterfront, while everything to the north remains as chaotic, grimy and unattractive as it has been for way too many years," the JCC statement said.

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