Of squalor and high-rises

WE APPRECIATE Mr Andrew Holness’ vision of a skyline of high-rises in Kingston as the measure of Jamaica’s progress in the coming years. Macroeconomic stability, improved infrastructure and better security are important drivers to this end.

“Once we get all these three things aligned, within five years, the skyline is going to change,” Mr Holness said. He expects Jamaica, in time, to rival Miami. We, however, look forward to something far less dramatic that, with a little effort, can be achieved now and need not be expensive. The Government, as a matter of priority, should work towards reversing the sense of ramshackle that pervades Jamaica, starting with cleaning our towns and cities. You need not go far for examples of what we mean.

On almost every major thoroughfare in Kingston, verges are overgrown, drains are clogged, islands have developed in gullies and garbage strew the roads. Newly repaired roads soon join this cacophony of decrepitude.

WE CAN DO BETTER

We don’t expect the physical environment to be pristine, but with effort and good management we can do much better. Indeed, we have the example of Shirley Williams and the organisation called Metropolitan Parks and Markets (MPM) of over three decades, when they started a turnaround in Kingston’s squalor. Sadly, the effort wasn’t sustained.

We won’t mind the high-rises. Right now, though, we’d welcoming a trimming of weeds, the removal of garbage and a patching of potholes.