Plans being finalised to accommodate Christmas shopping and vending

Indicating that changes are in the pipeline to accommodate Christmas shopping in downtown Kingston, Robert Hill, town clerk at the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), said that a proposed meeting with members of the corporation and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) today will finalise plans and a strategy to accommodate consumers.

Speaking with journalists following the KSAMC's monthly sitting that was held yesterday, Hill said while he expected that conditions would be relaxed, they were still trying to maintain order in the Corporate Area.

"We are looking at the increased numbers, which usually is the norm around this time of year. We are making some allowances for vendors to do their vending while balancing that with our partners in the JCF, through our own city inspectors department, to ensure that order is maintained as best as possible.

"We are going to be meeting with the Constabulary Force before the end of this week to finalise the plans for next week, right through to New Year," he said.

"Beckford Street is always a focal point, but I can't categorically say what the strategy is going to be for Beckford Street yet. After the meeting, I'll be able to speak more conclusively about what is to take place. We have had one meeting with the vendors, however, and we are making plans to meet some time next week again," he continued.

Hill also said that he expected party promoters to follow the usual procedures in ensuring that they have acquired permits before hosting social events.

"We always appeal for persons to come in and apply for their places of amusement licences and we are trying to process them as quickly as possible, because we know that there's going to be, like in other parishes, the hosting of more social events of that nature. So we are putting plans in place to 'express' their application once they have everything that we need."