Coronation dream
Published:Friday | June 11, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
A first-class, ultra-modern facility could emerge from the ashes of what is now Coronation Market in downtown Kingston.
That is the dream of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who was yesterday joined by many captains of the private sector for a tour of the facility which was damaged by fire during the massive security operation in his West Kingston constituency last month.
Golding announced that work to repair the market will begin next Monday, but that will be just the first step in an ambitious plan to resurrect the facility referred to as 'Curry'.
"The larger purpose for this visit was to look at what needs to be done to really transform the market district and the market facilities," Golding told reporters who toured with him in the mid-morning heat.
"As you can see, the condition of the market left so much to be desired," added Golding.
He said efforts to develop the market have been on the table since the 1980s, but not much had been done to improve the facility, which welcomes thousands of sellers and buyers each week.
"We have to look at what needs to be done, as this has to be part of the transformation of Western Kingston but, more important, it has to be part of the redevelopment of downtown Kingston," Golding said.
The prime minister said leaders of the private sector were invited on the tour because the Government wants to explore the possibility of a partnership with business people.
"We are going to be having discussions with the private sector to see how, jointly, we can provide market facilities that would bring pride to downtown Kingston and that will provide a hygienic and comfortable facility."
At core of downtown rebirth
The prime minister's position was good news for the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which has long expressed a desire to spearhead a makeover of the market.
"In a very strange way, this provides an additional opportunity for the UDC and I think (it) validates and vindicates our position that the redevelopment of the market is the centrepiece of the redevelopment of downtown Kingston," said Joy Douglas, general manager of the UDC.
"The fact that more attention is being brought to the market district is to the benefit of Kingstonians and all Jamaicans," Douglas told The Gleaner.
Local telecommunications giant Digicel yesterday reaffirmed its previously stated intention to pitch in.
"Our plans to refurbish Coronation Market are still in place and we anticipate that we will start the project sometime this year," Mark Linehan, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, told The Gleaner.
However, Douglas said the UDC, which is a major owner of facilities in the market, was also prepared to work with other interested parties.