“I
can speak with a level of authority because finally the problem that many
communities in Downtown Kingston face on a daily basis where raw sewage (on the
roads) was a part of their lives is finally coming to an end.....The efforts of
the water commission will go a far way in lifting the standards of the city and
will be a part of the effort for the redevelopment of Downtown Kingston”
Former Mayor of
Kingston Desmond Mckenzie commenting on the Raw Sewage present on Heywood Street
and Pechon Streets in Downtown Kingston near to Coronation Market
Downtown
is one of my favourite places to shop.
It
only takes JA$200 to reach Downtown or JA$100 if you walk down there early in
the morning and take a bus come back home. The deals on Vegetables in
Coronation and surrounding Markets as well as the Wholesales shops are
excellent.
But
I absolutely dislike the smell of raw sewage that emanates from the Street
whenever it rains. I usually avoid going to Downtown Kingston at this time to
shop, as the stench is unbearable.
It
has to do with a failed promise by the NWC (National Water Commission) from
four (4) years ago to build a new waste-water pump station on Darling Street as
reported in the article “Destination
Downtown: FIX IT: Raw Sewage Still Flows”, published May 5, 2015 by Andrew
Harris, The Jamaica Gleaner.
I've
only recently discovered that this Raw Sewage is also flowing even when there
is NO rain and is present in the form of the thick algae green looking water on
Heywood Street and Pechon Streets. Based on Newspaper reports, the US$6.3
million which is needed to replace the 116-year-old facility at Darling Street
has not being found by the KSAC.
Vendors
have of course protested about this, as it’s rather unfair to be paying JA$1000
per day to the KSAC (Kingston and St Andrew Corporation) for permission to use
the Downtown Carination Market while having to put up with the unsanitary
conditions that can be fixed.
KSAC and NWC have not
fixed Raw Sewage problem in Downtown Kingston – How to restore order by making Downtown
safe for Vendors and Shoppers
Meanwhile
the KSAC is trying to bring order to the vendors use of Downtown Kingston, with
many vendors still choosing to set up their stall in front of other businesses
and blocking the walking pathway on the sidewalks as noted in the article “Destination
Downtown: Vendors Vex - Slow Sales, Lack Of Order Leave Higglers Fuming”,
Published Tuesday May 5, 2015, by Andrew Harris, The Jamaica Gleaner.
Former
Mayor of Kingston Desmond Mckenzie has complains about the situation, to both
the current KSAC and NWC, but so far nothing has been done to have the
situation changed and the condition of the Downtown Market improved.
After
all, if the conditions Downtown are bad on Heywood Street and Pechon Streets,
then the vendors, seeking to make “honest bread” as they call it, will continue
to try to find the best locations to get customers, drawing the ire of the KSAC
in the process.
The
KSAC and the NWC needs to find the US$6.3 million and fix the waste-water pump
station on Darling Street. Otherwise, disorder will continue Downtown in
Coronation Market and on every Street, as Vendors have no place to sell that's
comfortable, safe and sanitary both for themselves and their customers.
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