Securing downtown Kingston

• Police move to allay fears as Digicel head urges the State to make security a priority

HEAD OF the Kingston Central Police Division and the man charged with leading the policing in most of downtown Kingston, Superintendent Steve McGregor, has expressed confidence that the right measures are in place to keep the lid on crime in the commercial district.

According to McGregor, crime has already nosedived in downtown Kingston and plans are in place to ensure further reduction.

McGregor's comments came hours before chief executive officer of Digicel, Mark Linehan, called on the State to ensure the safety of business operators and their staff in downtown Kingston.

Addressing a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum, McGregor said: "We are in the process of bringing some structure to a place where hustling thrives with organised businesses and that is the recipe for long-term problems."

He noted that the police have recorded only 34 robberies in the commercial district since the start of this year. down significantly from the trend in recent years.

"If you compare it with what is happening in Half-Way Tree and other commercial areas, you would see how far a difference there is," added McGregor.

The superintendent also noted that no murder has been recorded in the commercial district so far this year.

Linehan had called on the State to ensure that the matter of security in downtown Kingston be made a priority.

"We are depending on the Government and the police force to ensure that the right plans and policies are in place to address this," said Linehan, as he challenged the Government to ensure that the right support facilities are in place for businesses setting up shop in downtown Kingston.

Digicel is spending millions of dollars to establish its global headquarters near the waterfront in the city, and Linehan has encouraged other businesses to head to downtown Kingston.

But Linehan said the State has to ensure that the environment is conducive to doing business.

"While we fully encourage other organisations to join us and invest in downtown Kingston, to help us to redevelop and restore this city to its former glory, we also implore the Government to continue to ensure that the city has the right support facilities for businesses and their employees," Linehan said during a recent investment forum at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

"The initiative of the new bus park, for example, is a welcome one as a means for employees to get to and from work hassle free. Actually, a lot of our staff will now be able to take one bus ride to work, especially those coming from Portmore and Spanish Town (St Catherine)," added Linehan.