Business boom in Brown's Town

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

BROWN'S TOWN, St Ann: ON THE day The Gleaner team visits Brown's Town, the office of the member of parliament (MP) for North West St Ann, Othniel Lawrence, is packed with people angling for an opportunity to air their grouses. Busy as he is, the MP makes time for our team and it is soon obvious that he is very much in touch with the issues affecting his constituents.

Though the bustling town centre is cramped for space, pedestrians and motorists negotiate the limited roadway with an ease that befuddles the mind of those unfamiliar with a town described as the hub of St Ann. Comprised of some eight communities, Brown's Town is the largest town centre and, today, it is paying the price for its popularity, with a business boom that has left no space for further expansion.

"The whole development of Brown's Town was poorly handled in the past and it's very jam-packed. No plans were put in place in the past, and the space problem we are seeing now with entrepreneurs is coming in as a result," the MP says. Things are so bad spacewise, some people have been advocating for a new town centre.

Strategically located, the town attracts market vendors from the parishes of Trelawny, Clarendon and Manchester, with some from as far as St Elizabeth.

Road network lacking

The road network necessary to facilitate the easy transportation of goods and services is sadly lacking. It's going to take some time, but Lawrence has committed to resolving the issue.

" Just recently, we did some repairs to the town centre itself, we patched a lot of roads and we just got some money to do a drainage programme. We have some communities, for instance Orange Hill, Lower Buxton and so forth, where the JDIP (Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme) sign is already up; and we are planning to start work within this financial year," the MP disclosed.

He was proud to declare that Brown's Town is the educational centre of St Ann, with an abundance of educational institutions running from basic school to tertiary level located within the town centre. These include the Brown's Town Community College, York Castle and St Hilda's high schools, St Christopher's School for the Deaf, at least two primary schools and a number of basic schools as well as a Lifelong Learning centre.

Since his election in 2007, Lawrence has been working hard to address some of the ills affecting his constituents and expectation is high that his recent promotion to state minister in the transport and works ministry will redound to their benefit.

Work is now under way in Benin to facilitate the introduction of potable water to the community, a project being financed from his Constituency Development Fund. A new wing was added to the Brown's Town Community Centre and the town's fire station also benefitted in this regard, but there is still a long way to go, the MP acknowledges.

Said Lawrence: "In the past three years, I have been trying to work at some of the issues that surround Brown's Town, but there is much more to be done. I have been working closely with the schools and trying to get some financial support also and, therefore, we are seeing brighter days compared to some four, five years ago in Brown's Town because of my vision. We are working closely with the Social Development Commission which from time to time will have meetings with the different districts and other stakeholders, and we are trying to solve some of these issues."

A businessman who operates some four Western Union offices as well as cambios in Brown's Town, Lawrence views it as a very profitable place to do business. Much of this is due to the hard-working people from different walks of life who are drawn to the town for one reason or another - making it a cultural melting pot.

making a difference

"You find that people who really patronise the business places, everybody coming with their $300 or their $200, and that makes a big difference for them and a lot of people coming from Clarendon, Manchester, all over the place," explained Lawrence. "Then there are those who come into Brown's Town to sell their produce and also at the end of the day to do business. So it is seen to be the hub of business and, therefore, people take advantage and all different races of people do take advantage of the opportunities here also."

It is this ongoing confluence of people that has led to one of the town's major long-standing problems.

"The transport centre is definitely a problem. We are trying to identify lands in the Brown's Town area," Lawrence, the state minister for transport and works told The Gleaner. "I have already asked the commissioner of lands to assist me in finding any suitable lands and government lands preferably, to see if we can get a proper transport centre. The minister himself has promised me to see if he can help."

This issue of land shortage also impacts the growing demand for housing but the recent announcement by the Housing Agency of Jamaica of a 1,000-unit housing development in Runaway Bay offers a glimmer of hope. Another housing development being planned for a section of the Mind Estate - which falls within the neighbouring constituency of South West St Ann and is represented by Ernest Smith - is also expected to provide some ease.

Acknowledging the housing shortage as a very serious problem, and with very little land available to accommodate developments in the immediate area, Lawrence is optimistic that relief is on the way for his constituents.

"We may not have any housing projects coming on stream for Brown's Town, but in surrounding communities we are seeing where housing will be provided," he said.

christopher.serju@gleanerjm.com