More help for the development of downtown Kingston
THE AWARD he received from the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) was not a signal for Glen Christian to relax. The businessman and philanthropist has indicated that there will be a renewed focus on the redevelopment of downtown Kingston.
Christian was among four honourees who received the CCRP’s Living Legacy Awards at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge in St Andrew yesterday. The others were Joy Crooks, founder of the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI); Dr Owen James, family physician and philanthropist; and Dr Jean Small, educator, author and theatre practitioner.
Christian indicated that for the country to experience growth, there must be consistent and focused work on the development of cities, particularly Kingston.
CURRENT FOCUS
“I have a focus now, and the focus that I have is to continue with earlychildhood education, (also) to specialise right now in looking at the development of downtown Kingston. Downtown Kingston needs redevelopment and a group of us (friends) have agreed that we want to start with the development of downtown Kingston, beginning with the Coronation Market,” he said.
“We see the Coronation Market as the centrepiece for social and economic development, money changes hands. I’ve always said that if you want to kick-start Jamaica, we must kick-start the city of Kingston.”
In the meantime, Shahine Robinson, labour minister, commended the CCRP organisation, for taking the lead on honouring persons while they are alive. She said that it is imperative that persons make an effort to honour individuals especially, the elderly, when they are alive.