Mayor: Boardwalk coming to downtown Kingston
Published:Monday | December 17, 2018 | 12:00 AMPaul Clarke/Gleaner Writer
Capital city Kingston has always carried with it a certain allure, but over time the eroding social and physical infrastructure has been the main cause for its decay. However, there has been a resuscitation in recent years, with signals from the business community and the Government that show real intent to once again make Kingston the pearl of the Caribbean.
It's a title the city once held, and one that successive Government administrations and private entities have embraced. It is a dream that is fast becoming the reality that Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams has repeatedly stated.
Part of that ambition has been the revitalisation of the downtown area, the country's largest economic and commercial centre.
Williams said, however, that he will not be pleased if the Kingston waterfront is not also taken care of, noting that it represents the face of the city. He said that several plans are awaiting approval, including the construction of a boardwalk east of the Bank of Jamaica.
"This boardwalk along the eastern side of the shoreline in downtown Kingston will stretch from the Rae Town fishing village all the way to the Bank of Jamaica.
"The shoreline (along that area) is being compromised through erosion, so we are going to do some revetment work through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund there," Williams told the audience at yesterday's ceremony at Flag Circle to confer the key of the city of Kingston on the senior Reggae Girlz for their historic qualification to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
A revetment is a retaining wall that protects against erosion caused by wave action, storm surges and currents.
To make the space aesthetically appealing, the entire stretch will be flagged with the various national standards of Caribbean British Commonwealth countries.
Pearl of the Antilles
Williams said that it must be noted that Kingston is on a mission to be the pearl of the Antilles, the light of the Caribbean Sea, and a prominent international city.
"It's a vision we have; it's a vision that is shared by our residents and a vision, the path to which we have already identified," said Williams.
The recent buzz of activity downtown includes the construction of the new foreign affairs and foreign trade building, GraceKennedy headquarters, and the KPMG building on Harbour Street, as well as the popular eateries Ribbiz and Gloria's at the Victoria Pier, which have added value and appeal to that part of the city.