Hopes for a renaissance of downtown Kingston soared this week with Digicel's announcement that it will site its global headquarters on the waterfront. This move by the telecoms giant could be a catalyst for the long-awaited urban renewal which would hopefully herald job creation, infrastructure development, beautification and even luxury living. Many commentators have said this will surely energise the concept of private/public partnership.

Dedicated minds have been mulling Kingston's renewal for many years. The will for urban renewal has been strong, the talk about rebirth has been passionate. Yet, it has been difficult attracting big business into the area. Renewal is a slow process. Added to that, Kingston has become an urban hell with its decaying infrastructure, rivulets of sewage all around, ramshackle buildings and marauding criminals.

While it is commendable that the private sector is leading the rebirth of historic Kingston, the public sector also has a crucial role to play in the renewal efforts. There has to be an integrated approach to this rebirth of the downtown area, with due regard for the environment and the landscape. Efficient transportation and reliable infrastructure are also critical requirements. There also has to be an improved climate for small and medium-size businesses, as well as larger entrepreneurs. A new scheme of taxing should be also developed for downtown businesses.

In these days of huge budget deficit and fiscal tightness, the public sector has to adopt new economic strategies to demonstrate that our tax dollars are being well spent. They could begin by returning to the once elegant public buildings in downtown Kingston that have been spurned by various government departments in favour of shovelling money into the pockets of uptown landlords. We are pretty sure that millions of dollars would be saved by this move.

Hub of commerce

Although Kingston is seen as the hub of commerce, there are in fact people who live in the downtown area. Residences range from high-rise waterfront apartments to lowly tenements. Therefore, the community has to be part of the conversation about renewal since some persons may be displaced and will have to be considered in any resettlement plan. If it is done properly, we could be spared the spectacle of seeing dislocated persons demonstrating in front of the media.

Digicel has the credentials to make this multimillion-dollar development happen and further to inspire others to join the trek downtown and make this glorious waterfront a vibrant hub of social, economic and cultural activities. The huge question is whether the Government will be able to meet its end of the bargain to provide a safe neighbourhood in which people can carry on business and social activities without fear.

Recent incidents

So far, there is very little evidence that the Government and security forces can make the country safer. Two recent incidents in which the police had to take flight in the face of criminal firepower demonstrate that security is still the greatest challenge this country faces. Getting crime under control seems agonisingly far off.

Governments are often slow to deliver on promises; however, the Bruce Golding administration has been touting downtown redevelopment and we believe if he can get others in the leadership fired up about this project, combined with a vibrant private sector, supportive Opposition, voluntary civic and cultural groups, then major change could happen in this our capital city.

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