Traffic jams prompt St James PC to establish no-truck zones

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

The St James Parish Council has moved to make several municipal streets within Montego Bay, no-truck zones between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.

The move came after Deputy Mayor Michael Troupe raised concerns during the council's regular monthly meeting last Thursday, about traffic congestion being caused by supermarket delivery trucks and inadequate parking spaces.

"I don't know if it is possible, but if somebody applies for a building for a supermarket and the supermarket is not suitable for that particular street, sir, can this council turn it down?" Troupe asked Montego Bay Mayor Glendon Harris.

"I want to speak of this one - a new supermarket that opened right down there," Troupe continued, pointing outside. "We have to take a stand and regulate this thing, Your Worship - how we approve certain types of businesses that are established in the city. Because if you don't, in a short while, the entire town will be full of supermarkets. If you look on St James Street, at any time of day, trucks are lined up causing traffic jams."

In response, Harris said commercial building plans which are submitted to the council for approval, are not required to specify the nature of the business that would be undertaken.

"You see what happens, deputy, is that in most cases, plans come saying 'for commercial use' and do not indicate that it is a supermarket. The parking is not so bad in my opinion, you know; it is the delivery. And I would suggest that we enforce the no-stopping in that street right away; we should put it as a no-truck zone. And some other streets in the town need to be done right away as well," said Harris, evoking an immediate response from Troupe.

"They don't have any space for them to park," Troupe said. "So, if I want to go shopping, I have to go from a car park to there. I think, Your Worship, we should not allow that supermarket to open its doors until they can show us where the parks are."

VIGOROUS DEBATE

Councillor Homer Davis, of the Cambridge Division, rose to counter the mayor and his deputy, resulting in a vigorous debate between the three.

"We have to be rational, because business has to be conducted," Davis said.

"But not everywhere," Councillor Troupe interjected.

Davis continued: "Most of those supermarkets will tell you that they cater to pedestrians. But if you are saying it is causing obstruction, I can agree. But what you can understand is that the city has really outgrown its size. So, we as a municipality can't be seen as restricting commercial activity, because without commercial activity those trucks wouldn't be coming in; we should be glad."

But Troupe rose in rebuttal, arguing that there were far too many supermarkets in the area.

"We are not stifling business, but certain businesses cannot go everywhere. If you look from this new one here and to the end of the street, you have 10 supermarkets - 10!" he stressed. "But when you look at the big trucks that are lining off on the streets any time of the day, and see the traffic behind it, you will understand what I am saying."

CAME UNDER FIRE

Harris came under fire from Councillor Suzette Brown when he, in agreeing with Troupe, pinpointed a particular supermarket which he said was a nuisance.

"In truth and in fact, we need to find a way to make it uncomfortable for that supermarket that is beside Scotiabank - and I am saying it publicly - we need to find a way to make it uncomfortable for them to operate a supermarket there," Harris said.

"Mr Mayor, I really don't want to chide you publicly, you know," Brown countered. "But you have to be careful of your utterances. Mr Mayor, you are the leader of this city. You need to go and have dialogue with the people. You can't talk 'bout you are going to 'make things uncomfortable for them."

But Harris was unrelenting: "There are different ways of doing things and I am saying it publicly in this matter. I won't take your chiding in this case. I feel strongly and passionately about it."

With no objections, the resolution was unanimously carried.