Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2
Physical Aspects ..............................................................................................................4
Dangerous sidewalks ..............................................................................................5
Some Speaking Photos ................................................................................................8
Dangerous sidewalks - JGRA hits at beautification projects ...............................10
Poor Corporate Area road and sidewalk surfaces .................................................16
Cost Benefit Analysis For Road Projects...............................................................24
Introduction To The Cost- Benefit Format As Presented...........................................24
COST ITEMS............................................................................................................26
BENEFITS EXPLAINED.........................................................29
COSTS ITEMS.............................................................................................................34
Total costs .............................................................................................................36
Benefits......................................................................................................................36
Value J$..................................................................................................................36
Criterion For The Location of Road Projects............................................................39
Project location Table.................................................................................................43
MATRIX ANALYSIS................................................................................................44
Road Matrix...............................................................................................................44
The Issue Of Economic Rent And Economic Rights.....................................................47
Vendors arrested for selling on sidewalks .............................................................48
The Work of a “Thinking Mayor”..............................................................................49
Invisible Road Users and Residents-.........................................................................50
Moving the higglers - again ..................................................................................53
Dons extort millions - Businesses, sidewalk vendors said paying $400m a year
Friday | September 1, 2000....................................................................................59
Roads In History, Roads In Rebellion........................................................................67
The History of Falmouth
Boom Town Of The 19th Century.........................................................................67
Kingston today.......................................................................................................78
Riots Here: Send Help At Once.............................................................................80
ROADS & RESISTANCE ...................................................................................85
THE TOLL GATE RIOTS OF 1859 .....................................................................85
The Canvas, The Medium, The Stage............................................................................93
Christmas A Come.................................................................................................93
Jonkonnu ...............................................................................................................94
Santa Visits Downtown .........................................................................................95
The Fall Of A Gentle Giant
The Collapse of Tom Cringle's Cotton Tree..........................................................96
Side Walk Art Gallery, Kingston, Jamaica W.I.....................................................99
On A Wall In Three Miles, In Kingston.................................................................99
Art From A Lane From Central Kingston............................................................102
A Wall In Arnett Gardens....................................................................................103
Note..........................................................................................................................105
Thug Art,..................................................................................................................106
A word from my daughter. .....................................................................................117
1
Forward
This collection of articles, letters to the editor, and other published pieces that address in
one way or the other, sidewalks and roads, is intended to bring to the fore in the mind of
the student of urban planning, urban geography, urban economics and other branches of
urban study, the complexity of those issues related to sidewalks and streets within the
urban setting.
If one should start by trying to find a generally acceptable definition of either sidewalks
or roads, then one would then begin to see the challenge. For a traffic engineer a sidewalk
or road are but channels designed to facilitate the unobstructed flow of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic, for the urban planner roads and sidewalks in addition to facilitating the
2
unobstructed flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic also contribute to the demarcation
and definition of the urban space, for the urban geographer the issue is one of the
distribution and or usage of both sidewalks and roads as a subset of urban resources.
From the standpoint of the final consumer of these urban resources, roads and or
sidewalks could be seen as part of the domestic space where families and friends gather
to eat , to catch water from an open pipe,and discuss current events, roads and or
sidewalks possibly could be seen as an arena for male rivalry for women and other
community resources, for the Church it could possibly be a place for Ministering to the
wider public and for demonstrating God’s love for the poor, for the activists roads and
sidewalks are possible venues for the propagation of various views, the collection of
signatures or the handing out of pamphlets, for the artist or the artistically inspired roads
and sidewalks are possible segments of a larger canvass or medium for sculpting into
shape or possibly a gallery for the display of ones expressions or impressions of the
world and life around us. For others in particular the police and health authorities, roads
and sidewalks define and locate scenes of trauma and death, murder, robbery and crime.
Regardless of the point of one’s datum of measure, sidewalks and roads, as parts of the
urban fabric, give birth to relationships defined either by conflict and competition or
relationships of cooperation. This reader , is not intended to identify common ground
between the conflicting definitions, nor to raise issues of theory, but rather to encourage
debate among urban planners, geographers, economists and sociologists about roads and
sidewalks as part of the “living space” with each having its own individual character and
rhythm , for example the rhythm and life of Collie Smith Drive in Trench Town is in no
way identical nor similar to the life and rhythm of Red Hills Road in the parish of St.
Andrew, thus each has to be studied as an independent entity in its own right.
Secondly this reader is intended to raise question about the “ownership” of the roads and
sidewalks as “living spaces”, are these spaces owned by the state that built them or to the
community or communities that give life to them. A housing contractor can build a house,
but only his home he can build, would the communities form their own “living spaces”
with or without the state building of roads and sidewalks, were these roads and sidewalks
to be taken away would it bring to an end that living space or would it lead to
modifications or changes in the “living space”? Is the state’s attempt to end or regulate
sidewalk vending the same and equal to the state attempting to force a community or
communities to redefine or bring to an end a given “living space”? Is the state acting in
the interest of the wider community or is it acting in its own self interests which are not
necessarily the same as nor similar to the interests of the wider community? Is the state a
neo-colonialist entity which has a mission of denying the community its sense of
responsibility and authority over its own affairs or is the state acting on behalf of the
dominant classes in society and is in essence an instrument trying to preserve male
dominance given the fact that the vast majority of vendors, peddlers and hawkers are
women? Are the criminals who lay in wait along the sidewalks and the police, the law
enforcement arm of the state in an informal alliance aimed at denying women and
children equal rights to the road and sidewalks and in that create a social and cultural
environment very similar to that prevailing in Saudi Arabia, Iran or Afghanistan? Is it the
3
task of the student of urban studies to seek to bring peace and compromise or is it his or
her task to join the fray on one side or the other? Does the character of these living
spaces define the social and cultural character of the wider urban environment?
For Whom Do We Plan? (2) Why Do We Plan? (3) How Do We Plan? (4) Where Do
We Plan? (5) Who Approves Our Plans?
Finally and most important, the aim of this reader through the various articles, letters to
the editor, columns and photographs, to bring to the fore some of the views of officials as
well as those of the final consumers of the urban space, the creators of the “living space”
to bear on those issues related to the urban roads and sidewalks of urban Jamaica. In
short, while it is , in my view, important to study the role played by organizations such as
schools, businesses, government offices, non-government organizations and others , in
shaping urban culture and urban life, none of these organizations would exist in their
current forms without roads and sidewalks. Here the question is what is the role of roads
and sidewalks in urban cybernetics and urban ecology?
Special thanks and recognition is given to the Daily Gleaner from whose pages most of
these articles, letters to the editor, columns and photographs were taken. Special thanks
must also be given to Dr. Carol Archer and to Mr. D. Hall of the Department of Urban
and Regional Planning of the University of Technology, Jamaica who provoked me to
give thought to this area of study.
Dedicated to my daughter “Jodi-Ann” who stood with me through thick and thin, with the
promise that I will as soon as possible begin to address the views and concerns of “Those
Who Live On Our Streets-Those Who Fell Through The Cracks.”
Basil Fletcher
Physical Aspects
4
Dangerous sidewalks
THE FRONT page photograph in yesterday's Gleaner showing gaping holes in a sidewalk is a graphic
For this, believe it or not, is part of a project called the Urban Renewal and Upgrading Programme under
the aegis of the Ministry of Water and Housing. As we understand it, the sidewalk holes encased in concrete
The programme came to light last month when we reported the congregation of workers in various sections
of the Corporate Area as a revival of the old "crash programme". Dr. Karl Blythe claimed paternity for the
Thus the ridiculous destruction of the sidewalks has proceeded apace not only along Mountain View
Avenue, as our picture shows, but also along the street between Gordon House and Heroes Circle. And
having erected the concrete boxes, work has apparently been suspended leaving the gaping holes and
Thus far the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association has shown civic sensitivity in pointing to the dangers
inherent in ruining the sidewalks in this unthinking manner. For not only will normal pedestrians be put at
risk by having to resort to the street pavement, but moreso the visually impaired. Clearly these sidewalks
It is astounding that this 'make work' project could have proceeded with bipartisan blessing. As Dr. Blythe
said, his Ministry came up with the project after consultation with the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader,
The Prime Minister's own vision in this area focuses on unsightly zinc fences in the inner city communities.
If both parties conspire to destroy the sidewalks who or what will be left for the middle of the road!
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
5
Damage control Monday | September 4, 2000
THE MINISTER of Water, Housing, and Sidewalks, Dr. Karl Blythe, assumed personal supervision of the
urban renewal project which was shown last week to have gone haywire.
Specifically, the Minister on Friday was directing reconstruction of concrete planter boxes on sidewalks
along Duke Street, Central Kingston. Intended to accommodate trees, the so-called planters had
monopolised most of the width of the sidewalks, posing potential hazards for pedestrians, including the
6
In a classic exhibition of damage control the Minister was accompanied by a supporting cast, including the
Project Director of the renewal programme, his Information Officer, and what was perhaps intended as a
The reconstruction, which is to reduce the size of the planter boxes, will also extend to Mountain View
While there has been no public disclosure of what the urban renewal programme will cost the Minister had
stated last month that the initial phase would involve tree planting which will extend to the watershed areas
of Long Mountain and Blue Mountain. No sidewalk problem is anticipated in the hills.
A second phase would see the replacement of zinc fencing in inner city communities, and small-scale
This project may bring no joy to the Kingston municipality, however. Last weekend Town Clerk Errol
Greene said the KSAC will be getting less than the $56 million it needs for maintenance of drains and
gullies because the Government says it does not have the funds.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
SEVERAL PLANTER boxes constructed on the sidewalks of some Corporate Area streets under
7
Project co-ordinator, Paul Buchanan, told The Gleaner yesterday that under the Town and
Country Planning Act (1965) which guides the parochial statutory provision for pedestrian traffic,
two 30-inch allowances must be made on either side of any object erected on the sidewalk.
Under the current "make work" project, where planter boxes are being constructed, allowances of
36 inches are being made on either side of the boxes. If this is not possible, then a three-feet
According to Mr. Buchanan, the extra six inches are being given to ensure that someone who is
"Where planter boxes are constructed in a way that will breach that statutory provision of 30
inches to three feet, we will move the offending ones," the project director said. Of the work that
has gone bad, he said "we are in the process of correcting all of that". He said what was being
created in places like Mountain View Avenue and Duke Street was a safety zone for pedestrians
On Tuesday, the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) criticised the beautification
work, stating that it could compromise road safety and endanger pedestrians. The association
insensitivity to the effort of road safety in Jamaica. It said sidewalks should be free of all
obstructions.
The Ministry of Water and Housing has oversight responsibility for the project which also includes
the planting of trees in the Blue Mountain area, and the replacement of zinc fences with concrete
8
A roadside dump on Grange Lane, St. Catherine, Jamaica W.I.
9
Waiting for the bus at the official bus stops on West Henderson Boulevard, could be fatal,
no sidewalks no barriers separating pedestrian space from vehicular traffic..
A community bus stop on West Henderson Boulevard, away from the side shoulder, and
well away from the road.
The gaping holes created by beautification work on this section of the pavement of
Mountain View Avenue are potentially hazardous to pedestrians including the visually
impaired. One of several similar projects now being undertaken across the city, work on
10
THE JAMAICA Gasolene Retailers Association (JGRA) says beautification projects being
undertaken in the Corporate Area could seriously compromise road safety and endanger
pedestrians.
Commenting on sidewalk work being done under the Urban/Rural Renewal and Upgrading
Programme, Leonard Green, incoming president of the JGRA, has written to the National Road
Safety Council about its concerns. The letter has been copied to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson,
chairman of the Council and Transport and Works Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips.
In pointing to the installation of concrete planters on Duke Street and Mountain View Avenue, the
JGRA said the project was being carried out in contravention of Government's commitment to
road safety. "This oversight by the implementing agency clearly demonstrates insensitivity to the
effort of road safety in Jamaica," the JGRA said, adding that "our sidewalks should...be free of all
obstructions". The installation of planters where the minimum sidewalk reservation is not met, is
especially dangerous to pedestrians who are forced to compete with vehicular traffic. "While we
understand the concept of this particular project, the preservation of human life must take
The association noted that planter boxes on Duke Street and Mountain View Avenue will force
students of St. Aloysius Primary and Excelsior High Schools as well as the visually impaired and
In urging the Government to reconsider its position, the JGRA pointed to other countries which it
said had been successful in reducing pedestrian fatalities by removing pedestrians from
mechanical traffic. The association has urged the Government to repair and expand the sidewalk
11
I HAVE sent the following letter to the Project Co-ordinator of the Lift up Jamaica project C/O the Urban
Development Corpora-tion:
Dear Sirs:
With regards to your letter dated 2000 October 19th, in reference to my speech at the J.I.A's Awards for
Excellence in Architecture Banquet on 2000 October 14th, it is clear that I was in error in attributing the
wasteful and unsightly "planters in the sidewalk" work to your programme, when it was actually done by a
I very much regret the error, and wish to apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. However,
several people with whom I spoke before and after the function, were under the same impression as I.
This illustrates the confusion, and reinforces the point I was trying to make - that there are too many
Ministries and Agencies of government, several with overlapping responsibilities, and this tends to
contribute to the mismanagement and waste of public resources. For example with regards to sidewalk
1) The KSAC owns and is responsible for most of the roads and sidewalks in the Corporate Area.
2) Any other roads, and sidewalks not under the KSAC are the responsibility of the Ministry of
3) The Ministry of Water and Housing created a programme to do work on sidewalks, which were not
authorized bythe KSAC, and did not meet with their approval.
4) The Lift Up Jamaica programme, also spends money on sidewalk upgrading, according to your letter,
although you are not a part of any of the three entities already doing work in this area, but instead, are
Based on the foregoing, it is obviously difficult to keep track of who is doing what, to which sidewalk, so I
12
I trust however, that in all of this, my message of greater efficiency and less waste in government, through
I am, etc.,
CLIFTON YAP
President
I would like to believe that more could be gained from the debate on the cost to use Portmore Toll
Road, if one should take an approach that seeks to examine the effect of the toll road on the
various stakeholders. Given that the National Housing Trust is a major stakeholder and possibly
the largest owner of residential property in the municipality of Portmore, it has clear and
undeniable interests to protect. It is known, that while the toll road will bring some benefit to
residential users, the commercial interests form the group that benefits the most from the coming
Equally, it is known that the increased access that the toll road has created in conjunction with the
absence of a current Development Order, can lead to the accelerated depreciation of residential
property on one hand and the appreciation of commercial property on the other hand. This
process could also result in a significant increase in the change of use of existing property, i.e. the
transfer of real property from the housing market to the commercial market. This process would
13
not be in keeping with the stated objectives of the National Housing Trust, and requires timely
study by its Research Department and measures to contain or minimise the impact of these
negative changes.
Secondly, the argument is being made that the Government of Jamaica is subsidising the
residents of Portmore who use the toll road. This argument is not only essentially false but comes
already has a very high per capita distribution of motor vehicle owners as compared with other
communities, while suffering from a lack of adequate green areas, coupled with low rainfall which
means that carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and micro particles remain suspended in the air
The new toll road has further compounded the problem of airborne pollution by increasing the
traffic flow through the municipality. Equally, the cost of one tree in Portmore is far higher than the
cost of a similar tree in Mona, Havendale, Rio Bueno, Browns Town, Black River or Junction. The
construction of the toll road removed hundreds of trees from the municipality and destroyed the
natural habitat of countless species of wildlife. These and other environmental costs are borne by
I am, etc.,
BASIL FLETCHER
donovanfletcherhotmail
14
I believe that the year 2007 should be one in which the existing Road Code and associate laws
are modified to be more in keeping with the current usage of the road.
The Road Code in its current form does not take into account traffic density, the relatively easy
access to motor vehicles or the appearance of large quantities of both legal and illegal taxis on
the roads.
Under existing laws, a motor vehicle can swerve from behind a lead vehicle, come in front of it
and brake up. Should the person who was overtaken in such a manner hit the now stationary
A second frequent habit of a number of taxi drivers is that of coming to sudden stops in a line of
traffic, without regard for the vehicles behind them. Once again, should the vehicle immediately
behind the taxi hit it, the driver of that vehicle would be in the wrong.
On today's roads, it is not always possible to drive two or three car lengths behind the lead
vehicle, nor is it possible for drivers to be always prepared to be overtaken and 'stopped on' by
the same vehicle in a single act. There is in my view a need to review what is defined to be
Also the large number of both legal and illegal taxis on the road forces their drivers to be
extremely competitive and to subject anyone driving a white or grey vehicle to the most
aggressive driving practices. The police force, the traffic authorities and insurance companies
such as Key Motors, General Accident, and others, need to make concerted efforts to remove the
illegal taxis on the road, while reducing the number of legal taxis.
Finally, the parish councils should be empowered to grant to the various citizens associations and
other community-based organisations the right to construct traffic dampening and controlling
15
At this moment the citizen associations do not have the right to construct 'sleeping police',
pedestrian crossings, traffic islands or any other traffic dampening unit where they are needed in
I am, etc.,
BASIL FLETCHER
Donovanfletcher@hotmail.com
Greater Portmore
St. Catherine
THERE IS much talk about highways and roads these days. The Old Harbour bypass, well overdue, has
now been opened to traffic. We understand that the cost was originally put at $1.2 billion it will be
interesting to see what the final figure will be. The fabulous Highway 2000, first announced over a year
ago, continuing to hiccup into 2002, is now scheduled to get started this month.
Simultaneously, there is overwhelming activity along a short stretch of New Kingston's Trafalgar Road.
Government is giving itself credit and praise for these and similar undertakings. They are introduced and
16
projected as gifts to the nation, descriptive of a calculated policy for the development of the country, to say
There has been, as a matter of course, the customary Christmas work on streets and roads, for which the
selected contractors and hired workers are expected to be grateful, especially given the talk of general
elections in the air. And now, beyond the Santa Claus phase, there will have to be repairs and reconstruction
following the severe rains that have plagued Jamaica over the recent period. To this latter must be added the
realisation that in some rural areas road conditions have been discouraging to such as farming, travel to do
business and to get to work or school, as well as the use of vehicles given road surface hazards.
All in all, there is much road construction in Jamaica what is being done, necessarily or unnecessarily, and
what has to be done, all at taxpayers' expense. However, this article which will deal solely with the
Corporate Area, is based on the contention that what has taken place and continues to take place seems
unsatisfactory in the extreme. It is recognised that others may have other views regarding the record in
other parts of the island. If so, this would be as much as a comfort/surprise as it would be of a surprise/
comfort.
lesser extent, a tendency to go along with things as they are. At different times in history and in different
places on earth people have accepted, to a greater or lesser extent, exposure to such as slavery, serfdom,
poverty, poor government and much more. Well, judging from the Corporate Area, it seems that Jamaicans
are acquiescent, to a greater than lesser extent, to poor quality roadways and walkways.
Now most people do not realise that the address of the Office of the Prime Minister is nowhere on Hope
Road, but is 1 Devon Road, Kingston 10. Devon Road is a narrow two-stream road, some six hundred
metres or so long, leading from Waterloo Road and heading east to its end where an off-balance sign
indicates entry to the Prime Minister's Office. It is in an abominable state: sub-standard and much-patched
surfacing, recurrent potholes that are a threat to tyres (living on Devon Road, I've lost two) and shabby
sidewalks generously endowed with plant life. However Devon Road is but a sample.
17
We must pass from seeming acquiescence and complacency to concern with the quality of surfaces laid
down, in the Corporate Area in particular. Roadways are reorganised or resurfaced, such activities proudly
embarked upon, then boastfully declared ready for use, almost constituting the dawn of a new day. But how
long do their surfaces last? Within a few years the black surfaces fade and white and brown evidence of
barely covered gravel and earth appears. You get the impression that gravel and earth are in place and then
thinly covered with black eye-catching material. And this impression is strengthened as you drive around
and notice the white gravel protruding and hear the growl of tyre-surface contact.
Strengthening of this impression comes from the slightest examination of potholes. These may occur at any
part of the road, centre or edge, with much evidence of recurrence. You get a chance to see the thinness of
overlay and are not surprised at the erosion of surface and consequent collapse. The current construction
along Trafalgar Road clearly reveals that there is nothing admirable about what remains of what was laid
But the greatest evidence of poor overlay on top of gravel and earth is to be seen and experienced on
Corporate Area sidewalks. Surfaces break up and collapse, and pedestrians are often walking on broken
concrete and gravel, or bare earth. Some sidewalks are so unpleasant that people prefer to walk on roadway
Emergence can be where road surface meets kerb, or where kerb joins with sidewalk surface, or on the
sidewalk itself. As you walk on sidewalks you wonder if there is any city on earth with such disgraceful
sidewalks, or whether there is any capital city where plant life thrusts through road and sidewalk surfaces
The matter of road and sidewalk surface in the Greater Kingston area, and elsewhere in the island for that
matter, must receive serious attention. In the final analysis, it becomes a question of whether enough
construction and/or maintenance money is being spent per kilometre of road and/or square metre of
sidewalk, or whether too much is being spent on unsatisfactory construction and maintenance.
18
TYRONE'S WATCH - Potholes in paradise
published: Tuesday | May 23, 2006
Watch Your Step! Tourists avoid sustaining ankle injuries by skilfully sidestepping the huge potholes in the Pier Road,
which runs off Main Street in Ocho Rios. - NORMAN GRINDLEY /DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Huge potholes on the Pier Road in Ocho Rios, St. Ann. This is the first local road tourists use
This one is just ridiculous. Imagine yourself as a tourist visiting this island paradise in the sun,
armed with your camera and pregnant with expectations of seeing breathtaking sites, only to step
19
off the ship and before you complete the stretch of road that leads to Main Street, you wring your
ankle in a pothole. Sounds far-fetched? That is the case in Ocho Rios as we speak.
A livid reader described the pothole-infested Pier Road as "the gateway to Ocho Rios for almost
one million cruise-ship passengers per annum." The reader said that several "impassioned
petitions" have been made to the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which supposedly has
responsibility for the road. However, their cries have fallen on deaf ears.
A police officer, who was on foot patrol on the Pier Road in the vicinity of Island Village, said that
an average of five tourists per day fall into the huge potholes. The officer explained that despite
the potholes being so large, the fascinated tourists, who are more concerned with sightseeing,
are oftentimes derailed by the craters. "It is a big embarrassment," the officer said.
Another eyesore and potential hazard is located at the corner of Milford Road and Main Street.
Tourists were seen walking cautiously over marl that has been left on the sidewalk. Apparently
work was done and the persons responsible have not removed the remainder of the marl, leaving
it as an obstacle course for the locals and tourists. Plus, concerns were also raised about the
Nobody knows what will be done about the Pier Road. However, other roads in the tourist resort
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
No one has officially accepted responsibility for the pothole-riddled road. However, it is said that
Pier Road is jointly owned by the UDC and the Port Authority.
A representative from the Port Authority told The Gleaner that everything behind the gate of the
Ocho Rios Cruise Ship Pier belonged to the Authority. However, the representative could not
20
confirm or deny whether Pier Road falls under their purview. At the same time, a representative
from the UDC failed to provide a response, as promised, to queries regarding ownership of the
road.
CONCLUSION
Shame. Shame. Shame on the organisation that has responsibility for the Pier Road in Ocho
Rios. We can't be talking about the importance of tourism and a stretch of road in one of the main
Having visitors to the island falling into huge potholes just because they are admiring the
country's beauty is by no means putting our best foot forward. Action is needed promptly, or the
country could be faced with lawsuits from visitors and locals who are injured because of the poor
Also, something needs to be done for the homeless persons on the streets. Please, not anything
like the street people scandal of a few years ago. In addition, having garbage on display is not by
any stretch of the imagination a stellar attraction. Lastly, to the powers that be, clean up your
town!
Tell us about problems in your community. We will visit and help to lobby for action.
Write to: Tyrone Reid, the Gleaner Company Ltd., 7 North Street, P.O. Box 40, Kingston;
21
Staying on the side of law
published: Wednesday | June 23, 2004
I HAVE been a careful driver for over 40 years with an excellent record. I support the work of the
police and fully understand the difficult task they have in performing their duties. I received a
ticket for careless driving. This happened on Constant Spring Road after the Sandy Gully Bridge
near Merl Grove High School. I made a U-turn after the bridge. Going home through the upper
Constant Spring Road is always hectic so I have been one of those who use West Kings House
Since last year, northbound traffic on Constant Spring Road could no longer turn onto West Kings
House Road. The narrow South Avenue was made worse by the added traffic that was forced to
come this way. West Kings House Road eastbound became under-utilised and with little traffic.
This became a great temptation for northbound Sandy Gully Bridge users to turn around to go
Those of us being ticketed on this occasion were all furious because something must be wrong
since so many people are turning there. Technically, we may be wrong, and the police may be just
doing their job. But if they had simply erected a "NO U-TURN" sign after the bridge, most of us
22
This section of the road is in a mess as far as directions are concerned. The lanes and lights are
not yet ready. The markings of the lanes are misleading. Road users have to rush to merge. The
sidewalk is dangerously narrow and the corner is not ready for the left-turn filter lane.
NWA's job is to move traffic smoothly and we wish those responsible would look at this part of
West Kings House Road closely and help the people to stay on the side of law.
I am etc.,
Kingston
Christmas is here once again and that brings many positives with the zenith of nostalgia for the
Christmas Story. However, it often also brings an increase in road accidents. One wonders with
regret at every traffic accident: Do we read and reread the Road Code as often as we should?
Are we a reading nation? There is so much for each pedestrian, passenger and driver to
First Rule
The first rule of the road is to drive on the correct side of the road, which, in Jamaica, is on the
left, Children and pedestrians are most vulnerable and must be especially catered to. Crossing a
road takes special care. One really should wait until a road is totally clear of vehicles and then
look in all directions several times before crossing briskly. Make use of every pedestrian crossing,
which should all be brightly painted, to be highly visible. The pedestrian should walk on the right
side of the road at all times, to face oncoming traffic, and where available, use the sidewalk.
23
Much depends on drivers who can be role models of courtesy and caution. Speed kills. It may be
We should drive calmly, giving the requisite indicator signals in good time. Allow right of way; and
avoid drinking before driving. As Christmas comes, let us celebrate and commemorate Baby
Jesus, remembering to proceed with all care and caution on our roads.
I am, etc.,
C.D. SMITH
Christiana
The approach taken in designing the Cost-Benefit Analysis tools below took into
consideration the following two needs of the funding organization:- need to allow for
focus of the funding organization at a given point in time , as well as the experience
and level of technical competence of the individual/s using the tools; secondly the
fact that the value cost and benefits identified are community based ( unique) and thus
The potential needs that may come about as a result of the implementation of
“Community Based Contracting “ was taken into account. It is to be noted that the
tools presented below went a bit further than “traditional Cost-Benefit Analysis” as
24
will be seen on further evaluation, while seeking to maintain an adequate level of
simplicity . As such while the traditional Cost-Benefit Tables are presented, a Project
Selection Table (Measure) is also added for completeness . The Lower cut off point
for project selection is one for management to decided on in keeping with priorities
and policies and thus is in no way a technical one. The Project Selection Table is also
intended to act as a control mechanism for the Cost Benefit Table. While owing a lack
of information ,the Cost Benefit Table might indicate that a given road project
proposal is undesirable, the Project Selection Table (or Measure) will either confirm
this finding or in the case of non –confirmation , indicate that there is a need to
reanalyze the proposal. The Road Matrix , is also an additional tool that maybe used
in conjunction with the Cost-Benefit Table and the Project Selection Matrix as
another layer of control. However please note that all three tools have been so
designed as to have “Stand Alone” capabilities, with none being dependent on the
other.
Once again it is important to note that any given “Cost” or “Benefit” may be included
Values of individual Costs and or Benefits must be relevant to and generated from
data from the community where the request was generated. The Project Selection
Table can be done based on data already existing in or available to JSIF. The Road
Matrix similar to the Project Selection Table (Measure) is a simple tool, it requires no
25
COST ITEMS
(1) The items presented in the COST column are to be valued at the prices
prevailing in the given community at the given point in time when the cost
size price for land or agricultural outputs, prices are location / community
based.
(2) The effective span for the average tree is taken to be twenty years (20
years), it is however recognized that the average tree if undisturbed can live
(3) The agricultural output value of the “Common Mango Tree” over a period
(4) The cost of restoring a given area of disturbed land to its natural state is
environment.
(5) The real cost of health problems resulting from civil works projects is
difficult and politically even for JSIF undesirable, to calculate at full or true
value, therefore the cost of treating sinusitis in an individual for the duration
of the project times the population size, is used as the basis for the
(6) The cost of bringing direct benefits to a particular gender is not calculated
and should not be calculated for JSIF’s civil work projects, regardless of
their type. If the cost of the benefits of “Maternity Leave With Pay” or
26
“Equal Pay For Equal Work “ were calculated before their enactment,
(7) The opening or restoring of long closed road ways, in some instances,
information within this framework and within the context of growing local
importance. .
Along with these urban type pressures comes some level of urban type
crime e.g. murder, robbery etc. While it is not possible to predict how many
acts a particular type of crime will be committed in any give locale, its is
the inclusion of a shadow /non market price of this eventuality within the
Cost-Benefit Analysis.
over a his working life, while the base price for wounding regardless of the
nearest doctor plus the cost of any medicine used in treating a knife wound
27
number of these crimes that occur over the last year in the nearest township
or urban center in order to get the yearly cost of crime against the
individual, the cost of crime over the life time of the project would be the
yearly cost times 25 (the expect minimum depreciation time of road is taken
police for permitting the carrying out of the road project. This is a constant
feature with civil works in urban and near urban settings, affecting road
projects of all sizes from Highway 2000 to the paving of a dirt road in a
squatter community.
(10)Jamaican driving habits have resulted to accidents and death on nearly all
individual and the injury of one individual resulting in at least three months
Please note that not each and every cost item will be relevant to each and
every road project. Many of the cost items listed have no relevance to road
28
BENEFITS EXPLAINED
(1) Not all benefits will be applicable to each and every community road
project.
(2) All prices are local i.e. community based, the cost of visit a doctor in one
(3) The National Minimum Hourly Minimum Wage Rate is the Weekly
sponsoring organization to ensure that all possible benefits and costs are
(5) Transport hours saved refers to the number of hours saved by the average
individual over the period of one year owing to the rehabitation of the
road, times the minimum amount of money the individual could earn
doing one hour work in keeping with wages set by the National Minimum
Wage Act (see 3 above) times the traveling population (i.e. excluding
children under the age of six (6) years, adults over the age of 65 years and
(6) The reduction of teen-age pregnancies benefits refers to the savings made
29
taking care of one healthy child for 16 years times the expected reduction
of teen-age pregnancies. For example if the birth rate fell by four births,
then this saving/benefit =4 times the cost of taking care of a child for 16
years times 25 years i.e. the expected life span of the road. Here it is
assumed that the reduction of the birth rate by 4 for year will be held
the yearly of a skilled workman e.g. mechanic times 25 i.e. the expected
(8) Increase access to prenatal and post natal care, refers to the increase in
assumed that this yearly reduction in home deliveries will be the same
the increase in the number of children vaccinated in the first year of the
rehabitated road times the cost of treating a child for mums, measles, etc,
plus the income loss to one parent owing the illness of the child times 25.
30
(10)The increased ease of carrying shopping or household supplies refers to
times the national minimum hourly rate times the number of females in
the community falling within the age range of 14-to-65 years, times the
(11)Time saved going to and from church refers to the savings by the
years.
(13)Number of hours saved going to and from cultural events refer to the
of the road. It is the hours saved going to and from the town centre once
per month times 12 (months in the year) times the number of individuals
31
(14)Number of hours saved going to and from work refers to the savings made
working individual going to and from work on the average working day
times the number of individuals working outside the community times the
direct result of the rehabitation of the road times 25. The standard load is
32
(17)The increase in the number of taxi coming into the area refers to the
the rehabitation of the road. It equal to the number of taxi entering the
community as a result of the rehabitation of the road times eight (trips per
day) times $200.00 (income earned per trip) times 365 (days in the year)
individuals who previously could not get to and from work, now being
minimum wage time 25 (assuming that the amount of new jobs created
value of this benefit is equal to the yearly National Minimum Wage times
33
the number of new businesses times 25 years (assuming that each year for
25 years the same number of new businesses will come into being.
a direct result of the rehabitation of the road, refers to those visitors who
pass through the community for no other reason than curiosity or for the
fact that the road allows one to drive through. The potential increase in
“visitors “passing through per year times the price of a Pepsi Cola times
insect bites and purging parasites in the average year times the number of
J$ J$
Construction & Labour Cost
The cost of agricultural crops destroyed by construction
Cost of land used or directly affected by construction ($
per hectare)
Cost of trees lost (20 years times price of 100 common
34
mango [i.e. average yearly harvest of mangoes] times 25
population)
Cost of restoring the total affected area to original state
of road)
Cost of security and social appeasement for duration of
construction project
Economic cost of one life and one serious injury
35
Total costs
Benefits Value J$
Transport hours saved (national minimum hourly rate
25)
Increase access to prenatal and post natal care (measured
36
from nearest market and supermarket/wholesale time
25)
Time saved going to and from church (expected
to church.
Number of hours saved going to and from cultural events
37
operators owing to an increase in agricultural output
times 25
Estimated increase in new community based business
38
If the Total Value of Benefits minus Total cost is positive, and if the Total Value Of
Benefits is greater than 25% of Contract value plus Contract value then JSIF can go
“Project Selection Measure” (PSM) out lined below. This measure seeks to address the
fact that each Quartile 4 or Quartile 3 community is a unique entity, thus while a road
“rehabitation “ project might have measurable impact on alleviating the conditions giving
rise to social poverty in one given Quartile 4 community in another there might be no
As with the Cost –Analysis Frame Work Outlined above, the PSM approach suffered
from a lack out enough time and related resources desirable to carry out adequate study
and testing before being developed. As such, it should be seen as a guide to action, and
not as a Bible neither defining right or wrong nor offering prescriptions to all selection
problems.
Given that Jamaica Social Investment Fund road construction or road repair projects are
so designed to meet the objective of alleviating poverty, there is a need to ensure that
these projects actually do what they are intended to do. The construction of a road by
itself does not mean that poverty will be alleviated, if this road has little or no impact on
39
In addition JSIF movement towards CBC requires the development of more exacting
tools allowing for the filtration of those requests which are designed to mislead or to milk
the organization and in seeking to encourage the further development of JSIF capability
to alleviate poverty through road construction and or road repair projects, the following
Scoring System: -
(1) The Quartile from which the request originated (#2Q) is given a number value
matching the Quartile number, which is then multiplied by it. For example a request from
a Quartile 3 community would be given the value 3, which is then multiplied by 3, giving
Q the value 9, for a Quartile 4 community, the number value would be 4, which would
(2) The level of isolation of the community takes the value i. Where the community is
over two miles from the nearest town the value of i is 3, if the distance of the community
is less than one mile but more than ½ mile from the nearest town i takes the value 1,
where the distance is less than ½ mile from the nearest town i takes the value 0. Therefore
the maximum value that i can take is 3. Whatever value is taken by the variable i is then
multiplied by 3, the product of which is then inserted into the PSM table.
(3) The level of female unemployment is given by the variable fum. Where female
unemployment is more than 20% of the female labour force, the variable fum takes the
value 3,where it is under 20% of the female labour force but over 10% fum is equal to 2,
40
where female unemployment is less than 10% of the female labour force fum takes the
value 0. Whatever value fum takes, multiply it by 4 and insert the product into the table.
(4) The job creation potential of the completed road project: - jcp takes the value 1 or 0. If
there is a job creation potential, then jcp is equal to 1, if there is no job creation potential
then jcp is equal to 0. Multiply the value jcp takes by 3 and insert the value into the table.
(5) Increased market access for agricultural products is given by the variable ima. Where
the completed road project significantly improves the access of the market for
agricultural products, ima takes the value 3, where the completed road product has only a
marginal impact on access to the market for agricultural products ima takes the value 1,
and if the completed road project has no impact on the access to the market for
agricultural products, ima takes the value 0. Multiply the value of the ima 2 and insert it
(6) The potential impact on local business is given by the variable pib. If the completed
road project has a significant positive impact on local business pib takes the value 3, if
the completed road project has only a marginal positive impact on local business, then
pib takes the value 1, where completed road project has no positive impact on local
business the pib takes the value 0. If the completed road project has a negative impact
local business the pib takes the value –3 (minus three). Multiply the pib by 2 and insert its
41
(7) The potential increase in the area under agricultural cultivation resulting from the
completion of the road project is piac If there is a significant potential of increasing the
area under cultivation, piac takes the value 4, if there is only a marginal potential increase
in the area under cultivation, the piac takes the value 1, if there is no potential increase in
the area under agricultural production the piac takes the value 0. Should the completed
road project has a potential to reduce the area under agricultural production , the piac
takes the value –3 (minus three). Multiply the value of the piac by 4 and insert it into the
table.
(8)The distance from the nearest tourist resort is given by the identity ntr. If the
community in which the road is to be built is 5 miles or more miles from the nearest
tourist resort, the ntr is equal to 4, if the community is under 5 miles but not less than 3
miles from the nearest tourist resort, the ntr is equal 2, where the community is less than
2 miles from the nearest tourist resort, the ntr takes the value 1. Multiply the value of the
(9) The level of teen-age fertility is given by the variable ff. Where teenage fertility is
higher than the national level, the ff takes the value 5, where it is lower than the national
level ff takes the value 2. Multiply the value of the ff by 6 and insert it into the table.
42
the community is poorly organized the #so takes the value 1. This variable
will have a significant role in indicating the community’s ability to meet its
contribution to any given project. Multiply the #so by 3 and insert the
communities with a high level of reported violent crime, the lc takes the
Add all the numbers in the values column. The higher the value ,the more
desirable is the project for implementation by JSIF, the lower the value , the
Item Value
i
#2Q
fum
jcp
ima
pib
piac
ntr
lc
ff
Total
43
Where PSM= Project Selection Measure
MATRIX ANALYSIS
The matrix given below is intended to be used in the main for desk screening. It seeks to
analysis the desirability of implementing a given road project on the basis of simple yes
and no answers, where if the answer to a question is yes a 1 is placed in the value
column , if the answer of the question is no , a 0 is inserted in the value column. At the
end all the number value is added. The maximum score (or value) a project can get at the
end of addition is six 6. This six (6) indicates that the proposal is desirable . The lowest
possible score a proposal can obtain at the end of addition is 0. This 0 indicates that the
project is undesirable for implementation. For projects with scores between the values of
3 and 6, the input of the Social Development Manager should be sought . For projects
with scores between 3 and 0 , they are not very desirable and should be rejected.
Road Matrix
or no) Yes=1
No=0
Are there more than 100 potential road users per day residing in
the community?
Could the road be used as a by pass in the event of an
emergency?
Would the rehabitation of the road increase agricultural output
44
by at least 15% ?
Would the rehabitation of the road lead to an increase in the area
under cultivation?
Would the rehabitation of the road lead to the creation of new
End
Basil Fletcher
THE POOR state of the former Reynold's Bauxite Pier in Ocho Rios which is being used regularly
as a berth for cruise ships has come in for sharp criticism from a top cruise ship official.
Captain of the cruise ship, Norwegian Sun, Constantinos Fafalios described the pier as a most
The pier which has been renamed the James Bond Pier is one of two being used for the docking
DISAPPOINTMENT
45
The Norwegian Sun brought in over 2,400 visitors to Ocho Rios and will continue to call up to
April next year. Some of the visitors who went on a walking tour of the area also voiced their
Included among their dislikes were the trash and garbage seen along the sidewalk that leads to
the shopping centre in the town and the overgrown road verges that they said made the place
unattractive.
Captain Fafalios remarked that it was not appropriate for a dirty and unattractive cargo pier to be
He said that Jamaica need to improve the state of its cruise ship facilities because the country
has the potential to attract a lot more cruise ships to its shores.
The captain pointed out that Cozumel in Mexico has up to 17 cruise ships in port in one day and
"But the people there know how to treat the tourists. Can you imagine Jamaica getting 17 ships in
a day," he said.
Jamaica, William Tatham who was in Ocho Rios to welcome the ship, admitted that the James
Mr. Tatham said that for some time the Port Authority has been trying to acquire the pier in order
The pier is owned by Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited and still operates as a regular cargo pier.
46
The Issue Of Economic Rent And Economic Rights
WE WELCOMED the new sports field for our area. It is well lit at night and allows for different
activities in the community. What we are not welcoming are the taxis that park outside our home
from 6 a.m. in the morning to 7 p.m. and sometimes later, Monday through Sunday. The taxi men
argue or talk with each other loudly, which disturbs my home. They eat and leave their garbage
on the spot or worse throw it over into our yard. They also urinate and lean and fix their cars in
the same location- outside our gate. The section that they park in once had nice green grass.
The taxis also park in such a way that block the view of cars coming out from Sandhurst Crescent
Why have we waited until now to say something? Only because our diplomatic efforts to speak to
the drivers about their actions have not paid off. As soon as we speak to one set and they agree
to move, another set replaces them. Some are not welcoming of anything we have to say.
I would like to encourage the police in their no-tolerance actions and ask them to have no
We do not welcome that there are more vendors selling on East Kings House Road. Not only is it
illegal but on this particular road it can be a traffic hazard. Just this morning another vendor set up
for selling on the road. We strongly encourage the KSAC or whichever relevant authority is
47
involved to get on this matter before we have a market place on East Kings House Road and
LINSTEAD, St. Catherine - AT LEAST four vendors selling on the streets and sidewalks of
Linstead were on Saturday arrested by the St. Catherine police for doing business on the streets
Sergeant D. Brown, attached to the Linstead Police Station, also seized their goods and said the
It was only on Tuesday last that 11 vendors were arrested by Superintendent in charge of the St.
Catherine North Division, Donald Pusey when they disobeyed orders from the police to carry on
their vending activities in the Linstead market and not on the streets.
The vendors were granted bail in the sum of $5,000 each. They are booked to appear in the
Linstead Resident Magistrates Court this week to answer charges for selling on the streets and
sidewalks.
The police said the vendors are also considered a traffic hazard and there are frequent clashes
The police said the vendors are blocking the entrances of business places in Linstead, including
banks, supermarkets, the post office, bakeries and other places, while managers of the
businesses continue to complain of loss of customers due to the blocking of their entrances.
48
Meanwhile, some of the vendors told The Gleaner that there was not enough room inside the
market to accommodate all the vendors. They also said sanitation has been a problem, posing
health and environmental hazards, while the roof of the market leaks.
The administration of the St. Catherine Parish Council, which has responsibility for the market,
said they are aware of the problem, but failed to say what was being done to address the matter.
However, the St. Catherine police say they will not be letting up on the vendors, whom they said
Vending furniture and space added to create a pedestrian safe and friendly experience by
the Nelson Mandela Park, in Half Way Tree, St. Andrew, Jamaica W.I.
The work of a “Thinking Mayor” and a staff which includes Urban Planners.
Some of the vending stalls and a section of the space as seen from across the road.
49
By listening to the concerns of the vendors, albeit after several futile attempts to remove
them from Half Way Tree, His Worship Mayor Desmond Mackenzie working along with
his staff which includes at least two Urban Planners was able to come up with a solution
which satisfied pedestrians, vendors, and motorists while improving public order and
enhancing the aesthetics of the location. This is an example of a successful “Corrective or
Remedial Urban Planning” exercise.
A mentally ill man resting by an auto dealership on Halfway Tree Road, St. Andrew,
Jamaica W.I.
50
Ghabbi my long time friend, at rest by a bank in Halfway Tree.
The mentally ill both as road users and long term residents ( Ghabbi has been living on
the road for more than fifteen years) poses special challenges for students of urban
studies and urban planners in particular. While cooperate architects in the main have
designed structures with wide sidewalks and wide steps in order to facilitate all classes of
clients including the physically challenged, thus as an externality created safe places also
for the mentally ill, the city and local authorities are still caught with conflicting views as
to whether or not to plan to include the mentally ill and homeless or to plan to exclude the
mentally ill and homeless. City architects are still at a loss as to how to design garbage
skips and containers which maybe friendly to the mentally ill while enhancing the
hygiene of the location. Here the Church, in particular the Catholics and Salvation Army,
through their feeding programmes , have to some extent assisted the architects.
51
KSAC targets roadside garages Thursday | February 22, 2001
THE KINGSTON and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) yesterday signalled the start of a concentrated
drive next month to clear vehicles, containers and other obstacles from Corporate Area sidewalks.
Councillors at yesterday's monthly meeting of the Building and Town Planning Committee were told that
motorists who insist on parking on sidewalks will have their vehicles towed away. Just over 1,300 vehicles
were towed to the car pound on Lyndhurst Road, St. Andrew, during February and March last year.
Wreckers will also remove large containers blocking sidewalks such as those beside KFC's New Kingston
branch; they may even remove a shop which was constructed on the sidewalk at Hyde Park Road. In fact,
"anything blocking the sidewalks" would go, vowed Committee Chairman, Councillor Trevor Bernard
(Maxfield Park division). He said that the fines for these breaches, ranging between $5.00 and $5,000, were
a joke.
Roadside garages will be specially targeted. The committee announced that February 28 was the deadline
given to operators of many of the Corporate Area's roadside garages to find other sites. After that date
"We are going to remove the vehicles that they are working on," Mr. Bernard said. He had earlier warned
that there were plans in place to give roadside garages a warning via press advertisements, telling them that
52
they had seven days to lock shop. "The aim was to give the warning through the press. After seven days, we
get a number of wreckers to go and clear the streets," he had said in January.
At that meeting, committee members had expressed anger at the obstacles which force pedestrians to walk
in the streets.
"Roadsides are for people to walk. They are not for cars or garages. So many people get hurt because they
Roadside garages on Slipe Pen Road, Howard Avenue, Aldington Avenue and Newark Avenue, Kingston
had received notices and were said to be removing vehicles but Councillor Bernard remarked that the
companies were taking too long to remove their businesses. March will be their deadline to do this.
Last month, the councillor dismissed suggestions that there were no commercial spaces available to house
these garages.
Norman Grindley
53
So the streets of the heart of the downtown Kingston commercial district are to be rid of vendors
who have again captured the sidewalks and the streets causing chaos and congestion and
So what's new?
The problem has been recurring from heavens know when. Only, this time it's at its worst. Every
so often over the years the KSAC and Metropolitan Parks and Markets have made a few well-
But after a few skirmishes, the smashing of wooden stalls, the tear-smoking of higglers by the
police enforcing the removal orders, invoking the Litter Act and even putting a few people before
the courts, it has been back to square one for the illegal vendors.
On November 11, 1986 the sidewalk vendors resisted MPM's efforts to relocate them, demanding
"No higglers, no stores", they chanted in defiance, calling for a meeting with then Prime Minister
Edward Seaga, after claiming that the MPM had refused to meet with them.
Neville Lewis, Minister of Local Government then, promised that within a few days there would be
He charged that "elements in the minority have sought to create dissatisfaction and disorder".
Errol Anderson, National Security Minister at the time, warned that if the vendors went back to the
The higglers returned to their usual spots on the streets and the sidewalks within a few days.
Business as usual.
54
On July 20, 1991 the vendors again ignored a campaign begun by the MPM that April to get them
Fear
On July 26 vendors again objected to being moved from the streets of downtown Kingston,
claiming that there was inadequate security in the areas to which they were being relocated. They
expressed fear of being robbed if they stayed in some areas too late in the afternoon when the
shopping crowd thinned out. The MPM claim they were seeking an excuse.
May 16, 1994 was to have been D-Day for vendors illegally occupying the sidewalks and streets
of downtown Kingston. They had been ordered to clear the streets by that date or be moved
forcibly.
A joint statement then from the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Local Government
warned that the police would be "ensuring that the law is upheld and will continue to do so until
such time as discipline returns to our streets and illegal vending is stamped out."
According to the statement, illegal vending had obstructed pedestrian and vehicular traffic as well
The chaos, congestion and violence grew and with it the "protection" racket, which is sheer
criminal extortion.
But it reached a head on June 11, 1995 when Lloyd Bernard Hoo-Mook of Jack Palace
Wholesale was shot dead at his businessplace. The merchants downtown Kingston closed their
businesses on June 14 and 15 in protest, and the political directorate went into their usual re-
active mode.
55
K.D. Knight, Minister of National Security and Justice, declared on June 16, 1995 that all illegal
vending on the streets and sidewalks of downtown Kingston would cease from Monday, June 26
as the Government intensified its efforts to restore order to the nation's capital city.
He said the areas for vending would be upgraded and all vendors would be moved to those
designated areas.
New measures
Mr. Knight went further. He said that a monitoring committee under his chairmanship and
including the Commissioner of Police, the Permanent Secretary for National Security and Justice
and representatives of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, the vendors and Metropolitan Parks
and Markets would meet fortnightly to ensure the enforcement of the new measures.
The previous day Prime Minister P.J. Patterson had announced a massive security presence in
aimed at improving the social conditions of the people in the area, and a Government/private
For the next several weeks the sidewalks and streets of the commercial district in downtown
Kingston were actually clear of street vendors. (One was reminded of the King Street of the '60s
Since then the situation has again reverted to the usual chaotic state which has now worsened to
the point where the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Government to act now to
"reverse the general state of public disorder and chaos in downtown Kingston," warning that if it
did not act immediately it ran the risk of "losing Downtown Kingston where the rule of lawlessness
A walk on Orange, Princess, Beckford streets, North, West and South Parade, West Queen
Street or the lanes and streets running off is an exercise in agility. Many a store seem to have as
56
much goods on its piazza as inside. Sidewalk vendors render entry to some stores almost
The Government, through Mr. Knight said last week that the street vendors will have to move.
This time, there are a great many more vendors, many people having turned to vending because
of the downturn in the country's economic situation. The vendors this time around are more
militant than usual. Consider this. On December 17, 1999 many businessplaces in downtown
Kingston had to close as angry vendors on hearing that the MPM was going to enforce their
removal, marched through the area pulling down store shutters declaring that "If we can't sell,
Over the years there has been weak enforcement of the illegal vending law by the authorities,
with the vendors always being allowed to creep back onto the streets and sidewalks. The vendors
claim the alternative sites being offered them are neither comfortable nor secure, plus the fact
that some of the locations would be far from the buying crowd.
The CofC desperately wants the Ministry of National Security and the Minister of Local
Government and all the other agencies to finalise plans to implement the Market District, the
associated relocation of vending and the implementation of Phase 1 of the Inner-City Renewal
Project.
It's now up to the Government to give meaning to its mouthing of zero tolerance. With Christmas
fast approaching and the general election not too far behind, the Government is going to have to
57
be at its persuasive and organisational best to get the vendors off the street - having provided
But even more, it will have to bring to bear its political skills and assert its legitimacy in
persuading the ranking dons of the area that it is in the nation's interest to have the vendors
As the CofC warned, "Never before has the state of public order been so threatened as it now is
And lest you forget, the dons of Downtown Kingston - no less than the dons from elsewhere in the
During a demonstration by vendors who were attempting to block the intersection of West Queen
and Princess streets in Downtown Kingston on May 20, 1994 to protest against the actions of
MPM in ousting them from the sidewalks and the streets, some "soldiers" from Matthews Lane,
acting supposedly in the performance of their civic duties, slapped up the demonstrators and took
away their placards and sent them packing. So the street vendors are to be moved again?
Even with a little assist from those "soldiers", one should not hold one's breath.
©Copyright 2000 Gleaner Company Ltd. | Disclaimer | Letters to the Editor | Suggestions
58
A light and power company stores concrete
A THRIVING extortion racket estimated to involve millions of dollars is slowly crippling businesses in
But even with their businesses on the edge of collapse, many business people remain tight-lipped about the
"Nobody has ever admitted paying any extortion money. I would do my best to help in whatever I can in a
confidential manner but if no one talks, you can't help them," Mr. Laurence Heffes, of Heffes Sales Co. Ltd.
said.
"I personally have never been approached by anyone for money. I have a good relationship with the
community, and I would encourage those with complaints to report them confidentially to the JCC",
59
"You have to give. It is understood that it is in your best interest to give something back to the community,"
"They may disguise it as a community building effort, or some charity for the 'youths of the area', but in the
"They either burn you out, rob or kill you. I know several business people who have been the victims of
arson, who have been intimidated or shot over the last couple of years. Extortion has always been around,
from the '70s, but it is big business now because these guys are armed ... and dangerous. The situation is
volcanic now."
The police have admitted that intelligence reports indicate Chinese immigrants who have set up businesses
But, the police say, there have been no complaints from either the Chinese immigrants or Jamaican
business people.
"The New Chinese, not the Jamaican Chinese, are a big part of the problem. They are docile. They see
Jamaica as a stepping stone to head off to Canada or wherever, so they come here just to make some money
to leave. Further, what they experience in Jamaica is paradise compared to what happens in their country,
so they just put up with it. Some of them are followed home and robbed, but don't even bother to report it,"
Efforts to get a comment from some of the Chinese immigrants in the area were futile. They denied paying
any extortion money, but the wry smiles on their faces told another story.
Most local business owners contacted denied paying "extortion money", but admitted that they gave to
60
"What else are they going to say? A lie dem a tell. Everybody is paying, people have been doing it for
"Some gladly pay the so-called dons because they feel they can get things done, while the police is bound
by rules and regulations. If they go to the so-called don, he may be able to get your goods back so they
Crazy figures
According to the police, street-side vendors sometimes have to pay as much as $500 a week, while
businessmen fork out as much as $5,000 weekly. A businessman said he had heard crazy figures such as
"Most times, the men doing this simply use the names of Zekes or Dudus to intimidate them, but ... these
"Is not really extortion really; dem just ask for a 'dues', a small contribution like $200 to the community
centre, or something. They collect the money in a black scandal every Saturday. You pay according to your
ability or conscience."
One man was arrested for extortion on August 11 this year of a well-known businessman in the area, and
his case is before the Corporate Area RM Criminal Court at Half-Way Tree.
"The man went there several times, and one Saturday, he refused to leave until he got some money, then he
became boisterous and attacked the businessman. The police were called, and the man was held," a
policeman said.
The police contend that they are powerless to do anything about the extortion racket unless people begin to
take a stand.
61
"Nobody wants to go to court. We know it is going on, but they (the businessmen) seem to have no problem
with paying. They simply use fear as a reason to do nothing," a policeman said, speaking to The Gleaner
on condition of anonymity.
"The criminals do not just target the Chinese immigrants alone, but other Jamaicans as well. The ones I
know who have been robbed have reported the matter to the police but the police don't follow through.
They are not docile, they work hard to get ahead. I ask them if they pay extortion money, they say no; I
believe them."
Confidential sources say that in many downtown areas the security forces rarely carry out normal policing
duties, and private security firms are loathe to serve in the area.
A source estimated that the hundreds of businesses and higglers targeted, may pay up to $400 million
Many businesses can no longer take delivery directly from their trucks because some streets are blocked
with vendors. They have to unload down the street and then pay handcarts to complete the deliveries.
In addition there are calls every week for businesses to finance funerals, medical and other personal
62
Cops raid sidewalk 'pharmacies' - Three held for seized prescription
DETECTIVES FROM the Organised Crime Investigation Unit yesterday arrested two women and a man
Up to press time the police were still questioning the three but they were unable to say when the detainees
would be charged.
"The investigation has to take on an inter-agency approach," said Assistant Commissioner Reggie Grant
who is in charge of the OCIU. He said other agencies like the Ministry of Health might have to be
Asst. Supt. Karl Plummer who led yesterday's raid, said members of his unit along with an inspector from
the Pharmacy Council of Jamaica (PCJ), went to a section of West Queen Street and found the three
higglers peddling Canesten, Cutivate, vaginal tablets, Betnovate and the anti-depressant Anapranil,
"They were selling the drugs in their stalls and on the sidewalk," he told The Gleaner. He said that one of
the women was, 33, the other was 35 and the man was 25 years old and they were all from downtown
Kingston.
The West Queen Street raid follows a January 21 Sunday Gleaner news report that several street-side
vendors were involved in a lucrative "open air pharmacy", selling prescription drugs.
According to the report, the illegal trade had baffled the health sector, and had raised concerns about the
health risks likely to be caused by so many different prescription drugs being sold on the street.
The report stated that at downtown pharmacies, Betnovate cream costs $247, Canesten cream costs $290
63
In an interview with The Gleaner earlier this week Dr. Charles Thesiger, chairman of the National Council
on Drug Abuse and Senior Lecturer in Community Health and Psychiatry at the University of the West
Indies, expressed concern over the easy availability of black market pharmaceuticals.
He said that the antidepressant, Anafranil, was readily available through "street pharmacies" and was being
The United Nations International Narcotics Board, INCB, in its 2000 report launched on Wednesday has
also expressed concern about the excessive use of narcotic and psychotropic drugs such as sedatives and
The Gleaner was unable to contact Granville Forbes, chairman of the PCJ, for a comment up to press time
last night.
THE KINGSTON and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has a Mayor and Town Clerk who are
determined to get things done. If only they had the money which the serious management of the
municipality requires. Mayor McKenzie is estimating that up to $500 million of revenue goes
uncollected annually. If only 40 per cent of this could be collected most of the problems which the
municipality now faces with parochial roads, gullies, public sanitary conveniences and so on
Blatant violations of building regulations, illegal billboards, and the non-payment of fees by some
3,500 barbers are among the many causes of loss of revenue to the cash-strapped Corporation.
Seventy per cent of buildings erected in the Corporate Area are constructed illegally with no
building fees paid. The new firmness of the KSAC with respect to building codes has been
demonstrated in its stringent review of the application for the construction of the US embassy at
64
Liguanea including requiring an environmental impact assessment from NEPA. A similar firmness
must be directed towards non-applicants who are operating outside the law.
Ramshackle disorder characterises the nation's capital and the extended Corporate Area, like the
rest of the country. The Mayor and his Town Clerk are determined to restore some order while
boosting the revenue intake of the Corporation. Earlier on, a drive to remove illegal billboards was
started, and before that was the stubbornly resisted drive to regulate street vending. Now the
Corporation is closing in on illegally operated sidewalk garages, massage parlours, and even
basic schools. Apart from the obstructive nature of some of these operations to the rights of other
citizens in the municipality and the loss of revenue from the non-payment of fees, there are
concerns about health and environmental risks in many instances. The KSAC is not just wielding
a big stick but plans to educate citizens on the functions of the local government body and on
This month the Corporation plans to embark on an aggressive public education campaign in
tandem with more stringent measures to curb the blatant disregard many persistently delinquent
persons now show to the legitimate authority of the KSAC. Breaches have become so
widespread for so long that a great deal of bawling and resistance are to be expected in any drive
to restore public order in the municipality. But civilized social life, and in particular life in the
confines of urban space, absolutely depends on rules and regulations which must be generally
respected and enforced. The deterioration of the Corporate Area in this regard must be halted. As
65
Punters park on the sidewalk near entrance to Caymanas Park, St. Catherine, Jamaica
66
Roads In History, Roads In Rebellion
Named for Falmouth, Cornwall, the birthplace of then British governor William Trelawny, it became the
capital of the parish of St. James (of which Trelawny was once a part), in the 1790s, thus taking over from
the town of Martha Brae in a move sanctioned by the Vestry (or Parish Council). Falmouth was created
from seaside land owned by famed English Romantic poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning's grandfather,
Edward Moulton Barrett, in 1790. Barrett sold portions of land off to planter friends, kept the waterfront
and donated what remained for the building of a courthouse, church and public gardens.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning thought often of Jamaica even though her lifelong battle with frail health
rendered a visit impossible. She expressed her desire to see Jamaica, as she expressed many of her desires,
in her poetry:
In the 1830s, Elizabeth was cut off from her family as a result of her relationship with fellow poet Robert
Browning. Her favourite uncle Samuel, who resided in Jamaica managing the family property, bequeathed
her the family's Falmouth holdings, giving her much needed financial independence. Not surprisingly, she
asked that her wedding announcement read "...of Wimpole St. and Cinnamon Hill, Jamaica" (Kritzler,
2003, p. 117).
As Falmouth took shape, government offices were moved and churches such as St. Peter's Anglican
67
Church, located in the town centre were built. Today St. Peter's, after an 1842 extension stands as one of the
largest Anglican churches in Jamaica. Its supporting columns are of solid mahogany and its floor includes
crosses inlaid with mahoe and mahogany. Graves spanning over 200 years grace its cemetery.
Falmouth was carefully laid out with narrow streets named after 18th and 19th century British sovereigns
and heroes: King St., Queen St., George St., Rodney St., Charlotte St., Pitt St., Victoria St., as well as
Wellington, Stanley and Albert Streets (Buisseret, 1996, p. 95). This was the heyday of King Sugar and
Jamaica's fortunes were on the rise as the world's leading sugar producer. Planters flocked to Falmouth,
their slaves in tow. In the late 1820s there were some 25,000 slaves in Trelawny alone. Merchants such as
Delgado, DeSouza and Lindo were fast on the heels of the planters so that shops and homes, many in the
form of two and three-storey townhouses, were built almost as if over night. Some merchants even built
shops beneath their homes. Most houses were built in the Georgian style said to be the finest known outside
of Britain. Some had stone built lower floors and wooden upper floors, with wrought iron balconies and
verandahs supported on wooden columns, reaching out over the sidewalk (Gravette, 2000, p. 235). One of
the most famous is the Tharp House, a one-storey building built by wealthy planter John Tharp. It is similar
in style to Good Hope Great House, which Tharp also owned. Tharp owned three additional Falmouth
townhouses and had his own ships and a wharf which today lies in ruins. Tharp House presently serves as
BOOM TOWN
In the late 18th to early 19th century Falmouth boomed, becoming one of the busiest towns in Jamaica. It is
said to have been the "wealthiest New World port south of Charleston, South Carolina" (Kritzler, 2003, p.
115). Exports of sugar and rum came to Falmouth from over 88 properties worked by close to 30,000
slaves. Falmouth's busy harbour was guarded by Fort Balcarres (which in 1802 was moved from the centre
of town and relocated by the sea. It is now the Falmouth All Age School). Falmouth boasted department
stores, craftsmen such as goldsmiths, gunsmiths and tinsmiths, hotels, carriage-makers, taverns, brothels
and newspapers. At one point, three newspapers were in production The Cornwall Courier, The
Falmouth Post and The Falmouth Gazette. The newspapers, of course, advertised the goods on sale and
68
the comings and goings of a town that had become an active commercial port. In the harbour, food, iron,
furniture, household wares as well as slaves were unloaded at the Central Wharf, while logwood, sugar,
The conically-shaped Foundry, located in the town centre, built in the early 19th century, supplied
bedsteads for British soldiers and repaired parts of British ships and sugar mills. On weekends the Town
Square was transformed into a colourful food market organized by slaves. There they traded the ground
provisions planters let them cultivate as a means of easing the financial burden of having to feed, clothe,
house and provide medical care for the slaves. Soon enough, slaves increased the types of goods on sale
and buyers began to include the planters themselves in addition to merchants, sailors and tradesmen.
Market fare included fish, chicken, metal, tin and earthenwares as well as vegetable produce. An actual
market was built in 1896 and still stands today, the Albert George Market.
Socially, Falmouth also blossomed. Travelling dramatic troupes passed through and the famed British
painter Joseph Bartholomew Kidd painted panoramic views of the town from the sea, while visiting his
brother Joseph, a successful Falmouth merchant. Kidd therefore left us records of Falmouth it in its heyday.
Many of the buildings captured on his canvas no longer exist. Another painter, well-known miniaturist
Joseph Dunkerly, visited in the late 1700s and stayed on to paint Jamaica's prominent citizens, many of
whom came (at great time and expense) and sat for him in Falmouth. In Falmouth's Town Hall/Courthouse
built in 1817, high society entertained. With its four Tuscan columns, a portico and a double staircase, the
Town Hall was a perfect match for the elegantly clad ladies who attended balls dramatically decked out in
gowns within which peeniewallies were sometimes sewn to add sparkle and light while they danced. The
Town Hall was eventually destroyed by fire and a replica built in 1926 which today houses the courts,
In terms of law and order, the police station, built in 1814 included a cell with a treadmill and a gallows
(last used in 1896). Part of the prison became the police station of today. On the religious side, famed
abolitionist William Knibb preached in the Baptist Church or Manse, known for its stonework and wooden
staircase. Knibb became the spokesman for the Jamaica Baptist Church. His was a dramatic career. He was
69
arrested in 1832 on grounds of subversive preaching and inciting rebellion in what was known as the
Baptist War. The Rebellion resulted from a rumour that the slaves had been freed but were not so informed
by their masters. Great houses and cane fields were burned and 15 whites were killed. Three hundred
Africans were hung in reprisal. Knibb was sent to Montego Bay to await trial. It was Samuel and Richard
Barrett who helped secure his release. As slave owners who had outlawed the use of the whip and allowed
religious instruction and marriage among slaves, they were prepared to testify to his Christian character.
Knibb was released and exiled to England where he spoke out on behalf of abolition in the 1830s. By the
time abolition finally came in 1838, Knibb was back in Jamaica and at midnight on July 31, the dawning of
full freedom, he announced to a packed congregation, "The hour is at hand, the monster is dying." He led
Knibb's legacy lives on in the Knibb Memorial Church he built in 1844 on the site of the first Baptist
Chapel, which had been destroyed during the 1832 rebellion when those against him set his church on fire.
WANING FORTUNES
Post-emancipation Falmouth's fortunes as a commercial centre waned. The ex-slaves left the town in droves
and settled in free villages. In Trelawny alone there were over 20, some of which near Falmouth, Martha
Brae, Granville, Refuge, Kettering and Alps, were founded by Knibb. Sugar production fell by over 70 per
cent and by the mid-1800s close to 150 sugar estates had been abandoned. Architecturally, however, a new
dimension was added to the town of Falmouth, the houses of the newly-freed slaves wooden cottages
Today, a visit to Falmouth is like a walk through history; every house, every corner, every road, every stone
NOTES
* Residents of Falmouth received piped water pumped by The Falmouth Water Company pumped (from the
70
Martha Brae River) before New York City residents experienced the comfort of piped water.
* Falmouth Restoration Company arranges tours of the historic centre. Call: 954-3316
Sources: Buisseret, D. (1996). Historic Jamaica from the air. Kingston: Ian Randle, Gravette, A. (2000). Architectural heritage of the
Caribbean: An A-Z of historic buildings. Kingston: Ian Randle, Kritzler, E. (2003). "The poet and the preacher Falmouth's curious heritage"
in A Tapestry of Jamaica The best of Skywritings, Air Jamaica's inflight magazine. Kingston: Creative Communications Ltd. in association
with Macmillan Publishers. pp. 115-117. "Falmouth," "Walkabout" and "Trelawny" in The Jamaican, 2001. Kingston: Deeks Designs.
http://ww.silver-sands.com/falmouth-history.html
71
Celebration of Emancipation on August 1, 1838 in the Square of Spanish Town, the then capital of Jamaica. There was a
procession of the Baptist Church and Congregation of Spanish Town under the Rev. J.M. Phillips, with about 2,000 school children
and their teachers to Government House. Amid tremendous rejoicing, Governor Sir Lionel Smith read the Proclamation of
Freedom to the large crowd of about 8,000 people, who had gathered in the Square. The governor's carriage is seen in the
foreground. -
"The hour is at hand, the Monster is dying...in recounting the mood in his church that night he
said- "the winds of freedom appeared to have been set loose, the very building shook at the
strange yet sacred joy." - William Knibb, non-conformist Baptist preacher and abolitionist, at the
Freedom can be said to have arrived in two stages; the first being the early morning of Friday,
August 1, 1834. On that day many slaves were said to have walked up hills and climbed trees so
as to clearly witness the literal dawning of their freedom. Around the island thousands attended
"Divine Services" to give thanks and praise. August 1, 1834, marked the emancipation of all
slaves in British colonies but it was a case of freedom with conditions. Although the Abolition Act
stated that slavery shall be and is hereby utterly abolished and unlawful, the only slaves truly
freed were those not yet born and those under six years of age. All other slaves were to enter a
APPRENTICESHIP
The tenets of 'apprenticeship' stated that the ex-slaves would work without pay for their former
masters for three-quarters of every week (40 hours) in exchange for lodging, food, clothing,
medical attendance and provision grounds in which they could grow their own food during the
remaining quarter of the week. They could also, if they chose, hire themselves out for more
wages during that remaining quarter. With this money, an ex-slave-turned-apprentice could then
Overall, though apprenticeship proved confusing for the ex-slaves - they were told they were free
but they were not really free. Indeed, for many, the quality of their lives had not undergone any
72
great change. In smaller islands like Antigua and Bermuda, there was no need for a system of
apprenticeship as all of the land was under cultivation, so the slaveholders knew the ex-slaves
Apprenticeship ended two years short of its intended six-year term on August 1, 1838. This
marked the second stage of freedom, the day all slaves were made free. In Jamaica on that "full
free" August morning, peaceful demonstrations and celebrations occured across the island. A
hearse containing shackles and chains that had been used to shackle rebellious slaves, was
driven through the streets of the capital Spanish Town, and ceremoniously burned.
The road to full freedom was a long one, paved with rebellions and sermons by anti-slavery
missionary preachers in the colonies as well as debates and the passage of crucial reforms in
Britain.
Indeed, once full emancipation came into effect and free villages began to be established, the
plantation system began to fall apart wealth was increa singly determined by the amount of
money a man had and not by the amount of slaves a man owned.
The tide was changing, struggles to keep down the number of runaway slaves and slave revolts
(famous Jamaican revolts included Tacky's 1760 Rebellion and Sam Sharpe's 1831 Rebellion)
seemed harder, and the ripple effect of the successful 1789 slave revolt in St. Domingue, (what is
now Haiti and the Dominican Republic) was impossible to ignore. Public opinion began to shift in
Britain heavily influenced by the work of abolitionists like Granville Sharp and William
Wilberforce. Sharp tirelessly circulated the proceedings of the 1781 case of the Liverpool slaver,
The Zong, in order to bring the evils of slavery into full view.
Wilberforce, the leader of the anti-slavery movement in Britain, carried the fight into Parliament,
year after year moving resolutions to abolish the slave trade and slowly but surely the support of
the British people was won. Britain abolished the slave trade on January 1, 1808.
73
Abolition of the slave trade was only the first step towards full emancipation. By the 1820s British
Parliament began to send planters directives specifically concerned with the amelioration of the
slaves' working conditions. These included forbidding the use of the whip in the field, the flogging
of women and allowing slaves religious instruction. Jamaica, governed by an Elected Assembly,
refused to follow these directives and news of this soon spread to the slaves. Numerous
instances of civil unrest followed as slaves felt they were being denied certain benefits that had
been conferred on them in Britain. Anti-slavery sentiments were increasingly expressed in the
colonies through the work of nonconformist missionaries, particularly Baptists such as William
Knibb and Thomas Burchell who were arrested for inciting slaves to rebellion. In Jamaica, the
strongest example of unrest as a result of the fervor to put an end to slavery was the Christmas
Rebellion of 1831. Also known as Sam Sharpe's Rebellion, it began when slaves in the western
part of the island, led by Sharpe, believing they had been freed in England but kept enslaved by
the planters in Jamaica, conducted a peaceful strike. Sharpe, a Baptist preacher, was literate,
unlike many of his fellow slaves. He had read many anti-slavery bulletins from Britain and
communicated their messages to his followers. Yet Sharpe's peaceful protest soon turned into the
largest slave rebellion in the island's history. Great houses and cane fields in the west were
burned and hundreds of lives lost. This insurrection, however, became pivotal to hastening the
process of emancipation. Sam Sharpe, now a Jamaican National Hero, was hung in 1832 for his
role as organizer. Soon after, the British House of Commons adopted a motion calling for a Select
Committee to be appointed to put an end to slavery throughout the British Empire. One year later,
in May 1833, the British House of Commons stated unequivocally that the British nation must, on
EMANCIPATION TRUTHS
Emancipation did not mean the beginning of good times. According to Sherlock and Bennett in
"The Story of the Jamaican People" (1998): "Emancipation gave them the right to free movement,
the right to choose where and when they wished to work, but without basic education and training
74
many were compelled to remain on the plantation as field hands and tenants-at-will under
Yet, in testimony to the impact of freedom, Joseph John Gurney, a friend of American statesman
Henry Clay, who visited Jamaica in 1840, wrote letters to Clay contrasting slaves in the southern
US and the freed slaves in the West Indies. Gurney was arguing for the benefits of freedom in
economies of scale as well as in moral, religious and political terms. Particularly impressed with
what he saw in Jamaica, Gurney described ex-slaves as working well on the estates of their
former masters, their personal comforts having been multiplied, their moral and religious lives
strengthened. He exhorted Clay that with freedom "The whole population is thrown on the
operation of natural and legitimate principles of action, every man finds his own just level, religion
spreads under the banner of freedom, and all its quietness, order and peace. Such is the lot of
the British West Indian colonies: and such, I humbly but ardently hope, will soon be the happy
-Rebecca Tortello
Sources - Black, C.(1965). The Story of Jamaica. Sherlock, P. and Bennett, H. (1998); The Story of
Jamaican People. Gurney, J. (1840) Familiar Letters to Henry Clay of Kentucky describing a Winter in
Jamaica; The Jamaica Gleaner (1995). The Geography and History of Jamaica. 24th Edition.; Robinson,
trade and a large residential area, the land across Quiet Kingston harbour of centuries ago.
75
the harbour known as the Liguanea Plain after the giant iguana, began to look more attractive.
After witnessing the massive destruction and sinking of Port Royal, the desire to rebuild that town
was lukewarm at best. At the time of the Port Royal earthquake, there were probably only 8 or 9
houses on some 530 acres of the Liguanea Plain all related to Colonel Samuel Barry's hog pen
or hog crawle as it was more commonly known. Sometime in the early 1660s Barry sold the land
to William Beeston so that in June of 1692 when a new town was needed to provide homes for
former Port Royal residents, Nicholas Lawes, acting on Beeston's behalf, sold 200 of the 530
acres to the Jamaica Council (the island's governing body). The total cost was £1,000. When
Beeston returned to Jamaica as Lt. Governor in 1693 (a post he would hold until 1700), he
declared the sale of his lands illegal and repossessed the property, which by that time consisted
of some 800 lots, most 150 ft. long and 50 ft. wide. Beeston resold the lots at a large profit, well
aware that future profit was in store as he owned the 330 acres surrounding the new town Soon
after, the Jamaica Council instructed an English surveyor to draw up a plan for this new town on
the southeast section of the island. The town, as orig inally drawn by John Goffe and eventually
laid out by engineer-general Colonel Christian Lilly, was a chessboard-like parallelogram running
one mile in length from north to south (Port Royal Street to North Street) and half a mile wide
from east to west (East Street to West Street). These four streets formed Kingston's original
boundary and were regularly traversed by other streets and lanes that alternately crossed each
other at right angles. In the centre of the parallelogram that was Kingston the main street ran
south to north and was known as King Street. It was intersected in its centre by Queen Street and
a four-acre square area around that intersection was the site of a military camp known as
Parade.1 Like many other English colonial towns, it came to be known as Kingston (possibly from
King's Town).
Around Parade, in addition to the military camp, was the Parish Church and later a playhouse, the
Theatre Royal. The commercial buildings and the courthouse were found closer to the sea.
Wealthier residents favoured the eastern section while poorer residents made do with the west,
many living on land owned by the merchants John Hannah and William Rae, which was close to
swamps. One of the island's first burial grounds, May Pen Cemetery, lies near this area. Hannah
76
Town would become one of St. Andrew's first residential settlements. Many regarded Kingston as
having been well laid-out with wide streets of varying widths. (See map attached.)
Kingston was made a parish in 1713. It had a natural harbour, massive defences in its ring of
forts, fertile soil and access to water supply. By the mid-1700s, Kingston had grown from a
seaside town with 6 miles of waterfront to a city which was awash in houses, stores and wharves.
Clearly the island's commercial capital, it was said to be strange to see less than 200 vessels in
the bay before the town at any given time. In 1774 the Chamber of Commerce, one of the first in
the New World, was formed. By the end of the 18th century, Kingston's population reached
25,000.
BECOMING A CITY
In the early 1800s, Kingston was regarded as the great port of the Caribbean, just as its
predecessor Port Royal had been a century earlier. In 1802, during the reign of George III,
Kingston was granted a Charter as a Corporation, winning formal recognition as a city. John
Jacques, Commander of the People's Militia, was elected mayor. Michael Scott's popular
adventure hero, Tom Cringle, writing about early 19th century Kingston, noted in his log:
"everything appeared to be thriving....the hot, sandy streets were crowded with drays conveying
goods from the wharves to the stores...the appearance of the town itself was novel and pleasing;
the houses, chiefly of two-storeys, looked as if they had been built of cards, most of them being
surrounded by piazzas, gaily painted in green and white...the streets unpaved, and more like dry
river courses than thoroughfares in a Christian town...." (as cited in Johnson, 1993, p. 69).
In 1834, the year that marked the abolition of slavery on the island, publication of The Gleaner,
which has become one of Jamaica's main newspapers and certainly the oldest one still in print,
published in Kingston. Mico Teachers College was started on Hanover St. in 1836 and St.
George's College at Winchester Park in 1850. Following the full emancipation of slaves in 1838,
more and more schools and hospitals began to be built all over the island.
77
In 1872, Kingston was named capital of Jamaica, formally transferring this title from Spanish
Town. As the beginning of the 20th century approached, Kingston was a natural choice to host the
1891 Great Exhibition an international showcase for the island's natural beauty and talent.
Magnificent hotels were built in Kingston including the Myrtle Bank on Harbour Street and
Queen's at the corner of Heywood and Princess Streets, to house visitors to the Exhibition and
they marked the beginning of Jamaica's tourist industry today the island's most substantial
Kingston continued to grow until January 1907 when another earthquake, followed by a
catastrophic fire, brought it to a sudden halt. Much of downtown Kingston was destroyed. Almost
1500 people were said to have died and over a million pounds of property damage was incurred.
Trying to recover and rebuild, people wanted to move out of the old city and they looked to the
merchants who owned much of the land bordering the city. These merchants were sitting on a
gold mine -- the foundation of much of what is today known as residential Kingston.
The entire Liguanea Plain was built on between 1907 and 1957. Buildings were now made of
concrete as a result of a new building code, which remains among the strictest in the world. This
time no
particular plan was followed. Instead the city's growth was influenced by business people who
created neighbourhoods based on the running of tramcars, which started in 1876, and the
expansion of the water supply system. 1 Still colloquially known as Parade, this section now goes by the formal title
Kingston today
Plan De La Ville De Kingston.
management of each. Together they constitute the Corporate Area. Kingston then became both a
parish and a city. Although St. Andrew is a much larger and more populated area with similar
conveniences and commercial centres, today many Jamaicans still refer to locations in St.
Andrew as part of Kingston so vast is the influence of this small historic section of the island.
Much of the country's poor still live in Kingston's narrow, and now crowded streets and lanes. A
great number of Kingston's streets are named after former Governors and army personnel.
These narrow streets and lanes speak silently of prosperous days gone before. Much of the rich
musical
heritage for which Jamaica is renown was born here. Out of this area came Ken Boothe, Higgs
and Wilson, The Blues Busters, Prince Buster, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt. Close by in
Trench Town, St. Andrew, emerged the voices of Robert Nesta Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny
Wailer who built on the Jamaican musical forms of ska and rocksteady to create reggae, a
musical style that would forever change the face of Jamaican and world music. Although perhaps
not as handsome a city as in the past, Kingston today remains no less vital. The population of
Kingston and St. Andrew numbers over 700,000 almost 30% of the island's population of over
2.5 million. Kingston remains a centre of commercial, political, religious, athletic and cultural
activity. The Coronation Market, The Jamaica Conference Centre, numerous shops carrying a
vast range of goods, Gordon House the present House of Parliament, and Headquarters House,
the former House of Parliament, and a number of government ministries and historic places of
worship including the Scots Kirk Church, St. George's Cathedral, Coke Methodist Chapel and the
Jewish Synagogue, as well as Sabina Park, the National Gallery of Art, the Ward Theatre, St.
William Grant and National Heroes Parks, can all be found within its domain.
Sources
Bryce, W. (1946) Ed. Reference Book of Jamaica, B.W.I., Burns, H. S. (1952) "The Press" in The Kingston and St. Andrew
Corporation (KSAP) Official Souvenir Sesqui-centennial Anniversary of the City of Kingston, B.W.I, 1802-1952. pp. 42-43,
58. Kingston: KSAP., Cundall, F. (1926) Handbook of Jamaica for 1926, Cundall, F. (1971). Historic Jamaica. New York:
79
Johnson Reprint Corp. The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAP) Official Souvenir Sesqui-centennial
Anniversary of the City of Kingston, B.W.I, 1802-1952. (1952). Kingston: KSAP The Gleaner (1995). Geography and
History of Jamaica. 24th Edition. Johnson, A. (1993). Kingston Portrait of A City. Kingston: Tee Jay Ltd
APRIL 5, 1902
Courthouse In Montego Bay where the riots began.
At midnight on April 5, 1902 after walking
home from a leisurely dinner with Dr. Bill Farquharson, the District Medical Officer, Police
Inspector Herbert Thomas received this urgent telegram from Sergeant-Major Phillips in Montego
Bay. Inspector Thomas took the missive seriously and decided to make the 25-mile journey from
Lucea to Montego Bay. Inspector Thomas located Sergeant-Major Johnson who agreed to use
his parry cart (a two-wheeled vehicle not much larger than a wheelbarrow) and the two men set
off carrying carbines with bayonets, twenty rounds of ball cartridge and some clothes.
Inspector Thomas and Sergeant-Major Johnson arrived at the Montego Bay police station close
to 4 a.m. Sunday morning, April 6, 1902. Like the calm after a storm, it was eerily quiet. The
station's broken windowpanes and the many bricks, stones, conch shells and bottles scattered in
the station's courtyard spoke of earlier chaos. Inspector Thomas hurried inside to assure himself
of the safety of Montego Bay's Sergeant-Major and constables. All reported that they were fine if
RIOT
Inspector Thomas was informed that the unrest began late in the afternoon of Friday April 5,
when a drunken sailor named Cooper was arrested for disorderly conduct close to 5 p.m. and the
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two women who were with him were treated badly by the arresting officer.The arresting officer
was attacked by a group of "roughs", friends of Cooper's from the docks. Some 2000 others
turned up at the courthouse and began to hail stones down on the windows. Sergeant-Major's
home was attacked and his wife and children forced to flee for their lives. The police eventually
released Cooper but the rioters were not appeased. Police on beat duty were attacked as was the
police guardroom at the courthouse where Sergeant-Major Phillips was stationed attempting to
hold off the crowd with his revolver. He was eventually forced to retreat into the police station
after firing a shot into the crowd that wounded one of the attackers. At that point the crowd
advanced on the courthouse guardroom and destroyed everything in sight. They then turned their
attention to the police station. All subsequent arrests were also released and the Custos
addressed the people. Rioting ceased for the night and not believing the worst to be over,
Sergeant-Major Phillips began to send telegraphs calling for reinforcements. Inspector Thomas
APRIL 6, 1902
At that point, satisfied that he had been brought to speed, Inspector Thomas took an early
morning stroll around Montego Bay to see for himself that calm prevailed before returning to the
station for a short nap. Later that morning more reinforcements arrived so that in addition to the
town's regular police force, Montego Bay boas ted the presence of the Inspector General, three
inspectors, a Sergeant-Major and 60 armed men. Upon arrival at the railway station, however, the
reinforcements got an indication of what they would be up against as they were greeted by a
confident crowd of close to 1500 many of whom were said to have remarked, "Cho! That is not
half enough for us tonight!" Some of the inspectors, including Herbert Thomas of Lucea, began to
suspect that what happened the night before was only a small taste of what was to come. Others,
including the Inspector General, convinced themselves that the worst was over and that order
would be maintained.All remained quiet during the day and church services proceeded smoothly.
Adjutant Simons of the Salvation Army who worked amongst the poor in the community, took it
upon himself to address the crowd that had begin to gather once again. Although he is said to
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have been attempting to place himself over the crowd "in the hope of diverting attention from the
police" he staged a march to the tune of "Onward Christian Soldiers" (as cited in Bryan, 1991, pg.
273). When loud roars and bugle calls could be heard approaching the town centre, Inspector
Thomas was ordered to investigate. He wound up walking towards a mob of some 2000 angry
people and promptly took refuge in the police station arriving there only a few minutes before the
mob. The marchers managed to again attack police officers on beat, rain attacks on the police
Police whistles added to the din of angry voices. Stones began to fly and many of the police
officers on duty in front of the station were wounded, forced to retreat inside and regroup.
Inspector Thomas remembers: "Finding that some of the men had begun to fix their bayonets I
immediately ordered them to desist, and showed them how to use the butt end of the carbine...By
this time I had unlocked the big gate which was used to allow vehicles to enter the yard and I
suddenly flung it open taking the mob completely by surprise and charging right into the heart of it
with the butts of the carbines. The streets was immediately strewn with the wounded and the
By the time the Inspector General arrived at the police station, his white jacket stained with blood
and his arm hanging limply at his side, twenty men had been wounded, some seriously, including
Inspector O'Toole of Falmouth who had been carried in unconscious due to a blow on his temple
from a brick. The Inspector General who knew he had barely escaped with his life, ordered
Inspector Thomas to gather all police constables who were able into an armed party to clear the
Thomas did as he was told. "The street," he remembered, "was so strewn with missiles of various
kinds which were also rained up on us as we marched along that men were tripping and falling
every three or four yards, and we did not dare leave any of them on the road, or they would
assuredly have perished at the hands of the mob....Seeing no prospect of otherwise putting an
end to the disturbance, and as our numbers were being steadily depleted by casualties I myself
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being the only officer not yet disabled I gave the order for independent firing. Some twenty-five
shots were fired altogether and the effect was magical...." The mob (many of whom believed that
blank cartridges were being used) were stunned when the bullets began to fly.Within three
minutes, Thomas noted, "the square was clear while a terrified silence prevailed."
APRIL 7, 1902
The Montego Bay Riots had ended but the security forces were taking no chances. On Monday
April 7, the H.M.S. Tribune docked in Montego Bay from Port Royal thereby increasing Montego
Bay's peace-keeping force to 750 armed men. The Acting Governor Mr. (later Lord) Olivier also
arrived by special train as did a company of the West India Regiment (WIR). A reinforcement of
100 police had also been sent to replace the wounded. Of the four officers and 70 other ranks
engaged, police casualties were upwards of 50% of their numbers. Two of the rioters lost their
lives and some 24 were injured. A meeting of the privy council was held and a Commission
"Not since Morant Bay has there been such a rising against constituted authority," claimed the
Daily Telegraph newspaper. The Commission's conclusion was that the riots were as a result of
hostility to the police. Inspector Thomas of Lucea believed they were related to a tightening of
police control after years of laxity because Montego Bay, lightly policed and suffering from high
rates of unemployment, had become "the most rowdy and disorderly town in the island."Yet the
Jamaica Advocate, editorializing on the events of April 5 -7 1902 placed the blame for the riots on
the Government's recently instituted land taxation policy in its attempt to deal with a severe
economic depression: "Chronic irritation and discontent which have for some time existed among
the poorer classes as the consequence of the grinding, crushing, weight of the takes which they
are unable to pay, and of the prosecutions which have been recently instituted against them for
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not being able to pay" (as cited in Bryan, 1991, p. 274). About a week or so before the riots there
had been many attempts to collect taxes. Many had been brought before the Resident Magistrate
for non-payment. Many also objected to the manner in which they were treated concerning the
payment of taxes often arrested or threatened rather than summoned and unable to pay and
unwilling to go to prison.
THE AFTERMATH
The Inspector General was made a Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George and
also received a large cash sum. However, he died 6 months later while on leave in England most
likely as a result of the wounds he sustained in Montego Bay. A few other Inspectors received
In a move that foreshadowed happenings during another set of April riots almost 100 years later
(the gas riots in Kingston of April 1999), the Government, alarmed by all that had taken place,
decided to put the tax proposals on hold for at least a year. History, it seems, does have a way of
repeating itself.
Rebecca Tortello.
*Special thanks to Merrick Needham for his contribution to this piece. Sources
Black, C.V. (1984).Montego Bay.Montego Bay: Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, pp. 36-40. Bryan, P. (1991).The Jamaican
People 1880-1902 in the Warwick University Caribbean Studies Series.Macmillan Caribbean.Edwards, A. E. (1992)."Book
Review" in The Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF)125th Anniversary Magazine.Kingston: The JCF.Reynolds, C. R. (1999,
84
ROADS & RESISTANCE
JAMAICA'S FIRST toll roads did not arrive with Highway 2000. They appeared over a
century and a half earlier, around 1838. The history of tolls themselves stretches back
much further, all the way to Greek mythology, where Charon the ferryman, charged a toll
to carry the dead across the river Acheron. In their writing, Greek scholars Aristotle and
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Pliny referred to the use of tolls in Asia and Arabia. According to the Arthasastra, a
Sanskrit political treatise, tolls were also said to have existed in 4th century India. Today
many countries use tolls as a means of revenue collection including China, Canada,
A toll road is one whose use is monitored by the payment of a fee, generally collected by
a toll authority i.e. the government. There are also toll bridges and toll tunnels. Tolls
were generally manned by toll keepers who lived in toll cottages adjacent to the toll
Tolls first appeared in the United Kingdom during the 17th Century when the term
turnpike came into use. A turnpike was originally a gate on which sharp pikes were
placed as a defense against invading cavalry, although for Americans it simply means a
toll road. The British meaning evolved to define the pike or stick that was raised when a
toll was paid. Prior to the creation of toll gates, roads in England were mainly poorly
maintained dirt tracks with every adult inhabitant of a parish required to work four days
each year on the roads using their own tools. The increased use of wheeled vehicles,
however, destroyed the upkeep as soon as the work had been completed. In general, the
king, monasteries or the aristocrats who owned the relevant land, were responsible for
road maintenance. As a result, not much was done to ensure road quality. TURNPIKE
TRUST
With the advent of tolls came a new venture the Turnpike Trust. Appointed by
Parliament as a result of a 1706 act, the trustees could erect tolls at their discretion. The
idea was that the trustees would borrow money to effect road repairs although there were
86
no road constructions standards to adhere to and then repay it over time through the tolls
collected. Although it seemed a simple and efficient system to put designated bodies in
charge of road maintenance, the reality was that these debts were rarely repaid while the
By the mid-18th century, turnpikes had been built on the thirteen main roads from
London, and in the next few years, close to 400 more were established. By 1825 over
1,000 trusts controlled some 25,000 miles of road in England and Wales many of which
Trusts and tolls were challenged by the advent of the railway in the later 19th century,
with the last British trust disappearing in 1895, giving way to a road maintenance system
overseen by county councils. In America, toll roads began in the late 18th century
connecting different states. They peaked in the 19th century and were taken over by
highway departments in the early 20th. Post-World War II new and improved toll roads
were built in the United States heralding the streamlining of the interstate highway
system.
Frustration peaks, toll riots begin According to historian Frank Cundall, around 1838
a law was passed to ensure the maintenance of Hope Road the road leading from
Montgomery Corner in Liguanea to the junction of the Hope and Hog-Hole Rivers.
Montgomery Corner is now known as Cross Roads. The rates were noted as:
87
(as cited in Virtue, G., 1980).
This was the first instance of tolls being paid in Jamaica although during this period more
and more taxes were levied on the peasant class. Peasant carts began to be taxed eighteen
shillings per year and the taxes on food and clothing were increased twelve-fold. The
funds collected were used to provide additional services for the plantation owners.
Naturally, unrest began to simmer and the toll gates were simply another log on that fire.
(Sherlock and Bennett, 1998, 252-253). Just like today, tolls were disliked for the wait at
Some years later in 1851 a Board of Commissioners of Highways and Bridges was
appointed to take control of the toll gates. Some toll gates were placed at strategic
locations on roads leading to Savanna-la-Mar. This meant, however, that many people
had to pay tolls each time they went to collect water. In February 1859, the people could
take no more. They rioted. For three nights protestors tore down the toll gates. During the
next few months the riots spread throughout Westmoreland. The Falmouth Post
described the participants who destroyed the toll-keeper's house and toll gates at
were unable to cope with this challenge they could neither identify the protestors nor
Reinforcements had to be sent in from Hanover, Trelawny, St. James and St. Elizabeth.
88
Even when some protestors were brought to trial, large such large crowds of supporters
gathered that it was deemed prudent to adjourn the proceedings. By 1863, toll gate
legislation had been repealed and the commissioner was ordered to sell the toll houses
The fact that these protestors dressed in women's clothing could potentially be a link
between Jamaican and Welsh history. On May 13, 1839, following a particularly harsh
winter and poor harvest in west Wales, Welsh farmers reacted to the increased number of
toll gates and the increased tolls charged. Supporters dressed in female clothes attacked
the toll gates and the toll houses. This was the first of a series of what became known as
the 'Rebecca Riots'. Dressing as women ensured protection of their identities and the
biblical symbolism gave their actions a spiritual calling: "And they blessed Rebekah and
said unto her, let thy seed possess the gates of those which hate them." (Genesis XXIV,
60).
'Rebecca' and her 'daughters' continued their attacks (by this time some industrial workers
had joined the 'Rebeccaites') through the early 1840s, receiving support in the press and
censure from law enforcement officials. There was no police force in west Wales at the
time. The area relied instead on a cheaper alternative, the use of special constables and
the military if necessary. The toll riots became increasingly violent and troops were called
in to restore order.
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It didn't work. The rioters were simply emboldened and marches to petition magistrates
soon followed. The Government was forced to take these matters seriously. Promises
were made but they didn't quell the energy to strike out against not only tolls gates but
any who had offended by increasing rents, tithes, etc. Soon, however, they were subdued
by the presence of large numbers of troops. The moderating influence of the Non-
Conformist Chapels who supported the cause but did not condone the violence, and the
commissioners sent to look into the accounts of the Turnpike Trusts also helped to stop
the riots in West Wales. Arrests were made but by this time the momentum had spread to
the south east. Eventually, with the use of force, 'Rebecca' and 'her daughters' were also
silenced for a time although sporadic outbreaks continued throughout the 19th century in
west and north Wales. Eventually some of the 'Rebeccaites' were brought to trial some
recommendations that road boards be established in each county to control the roads. In a
strange twist of fate, this led to parts of Wales, for a time, having the honour of having the
www.
schoolshistory.org.uk/rebeccariots.htm).
WORD OF THE 'REBECCA RIOTS' SPREADS Given the significant press the 'Rebecca
Riots' received in the United Kingdom, it is easy to believe that word of these actions
could have reached the English colonies with Jamaica being no exception. The timing of
the Westmoreland Toll Gate Riots also lends credence to the theory of a Welsh
connection. Interestingly, the Welsh rioters were a mixture of educated middle class and
poor working class, who received some media support. The Jamaican Westmoreland
90
rioters were mainly peasants but they too seemed to have received support from media
commentators if not from the mainstream press itself. Consider The Falmouth Post 's
description of the rioters which reveals bitter contempt: "The demolition of the toll gates
in the parish of Westmoreland the pulling down of toll keepers' houses and the threats
held out to persons in authority by a lawless desperate rabble are events which have
resulted from mischievous speeches which have appeared from time to time in the
columns of newspapers owned by persons who are always boasting of their patriotism
WESTMORELAND UNREST
Unlike the Welsh situation, however, the Jamaican Westmoreland Toll Riots led to the
abolition of all toll gates in 1863. Perhaps the strongest reminder of this period in our
history is the town of Toll Gate, Clarendon. In addition, one historian, writing in The
Gleaner in the 1960s, points to tolls as having helped to spearhead the practice of people
According to him, a toll gate was believed to have stood at the archway of the old fort at
Rockfort. Recognising that pedestrians were exempt from paying tolls, with the ingenuity
that has come to characterise Jamaicans, it is believed that people took to carrying loads
in straw baskets on their heads and passing through a separate space in the fort that was
just narrow enough to allow passage. Thus, these pedestrians managed to carry loads and
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The 'Rebecca Riots' and the Westmoreland Toll Gate Riots of 1859 are both testimony to
the spirit of resistance found amongst people in two countries whose histories share a
similar theme of protest. The Welsh have long fought against English control and the
Jamaican peasants, following Emancipation, demanded their say in how the country was
to be run. It is no surprise that the Morant Bay Rebellion was to follow the Toll Gate
Sources: Senior, O. (2003). The Encyclopedia of the Jamaican Heritage. Kingston - Twin
Guinep Publishers, Sherlock, P.and Bennett, H. (1998). The Story of the Jamaican
people. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers, Virtue, G(1980, January 13). "Toll Gate
www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/
www.reference.combrowse/wiki/ Toll_road.
92
The Canvas, The Medium, The Stage
Christmas A Come
TODAY CHRISTMAS in Jamaica, as in many countries around the world, has become
commercialised. Carols are heard from the end of November, decorations appear from the first of
December in stores and homes, and Santa can be visited in many different stores. In decades
past Christmas time included a number of different types of celebrations marked by distinctive
sights, sounds and smells. There was the tradition of the "Grand Market", the much-heralded
arrival of Santa Claus in the downtown shopping district and the dramatic performances of the
Jonkonnu bands. All three still exist but to significantly lesser degrees and none are greeted with
Rebecca Tortello
food, street dancing, crafts and music. In the past, the weekend before
all over the island were awash with vendors selling small toys, firecrackers,
balloons and sweets of all kinds pinda (an African word for peanut) cakes,
grater cakes and peppermint sticks. Oranges and even American apples
were distinctive features of the Grand Markets. Sorrel, chocolate tea and
Grand Market in
93
Downtown Kingston
coffee flowed, as did the Christmas carols and a merry banter between vendors and customers.
On Christmas Day some markets were decorated with streamers, large accordion-style bells, and
balloons. Many were decked out in fancy clothes, including bright hats purchased upon entering
the Grand Market. Everyone came to town for Grand Market and the celebrations lasted
Jonkonnu
Jonkonnu Masquerade even some adults, would often run away screaming,
frightened by the more elaborate costumes. Occasionally, some of the individual characters like
the Devil, might jab at them with his fork, escalating the fear factor. Up to the 1960s masked
Jonkonnu (also spelled John Canoe, John Konno, Johnny Canoe, Jonkunnu and John Canou) is
an example of creolization in action, or, what Rex Nettleford calls the blending of the rhythmn of
However it began, Jonkonnu melded the tradition of masquerade from Africa with those of
European masquerade and British mumming plays. Excerpts from Shakespearean monologues
94
were often included. The costumes also reflected European influences incorporating the attire of
JONKONNU CHARACTERS
The traditional set of Jonkonnu characters included the horned Cow Head, Policeman, Horse
Head, Wild Indian, Devil, Belly-woman, Pitchy-Patchy and sometimes a Bride and House Head
who carried an image of a great house on his head. Yet all were bright, elaborate and colourful.
Mirrors and tinsel generally added shine to costumes. Pitchy-patchy in particular was a striking
sight his costume made up of strips of brightly coloured cloth. Each character had a special role
and sometimes a special dance to perform. For example, Bellywoman's often a man dressed up
as a pregnant lady always created laughter when by exaggerating the belly in time with the
music. Characters often interacted with one another and the music of the drums and fife caused
Although Jamaica is credited with the longest running tradition of Jonkonnu, today these
mysterious bands with their gigantic costumes appear more as entertainment at cultural events
than at random along our streets. Despite attempts to revive these customs so much is being lost.
Today the cost of putting together a Jonkonnu band is also prohibitive and sponsors are not easy
to come by.
95
Santa's arrival on balconies and along crowded sidewalks. The Santa Claus Parade was a much-
anticipated event. Streets were closed to traffic to clear the way for Santa's sleigh ride down King
Street onto Harbour Street and Times Store, his final destination. Vendors lined the streets with
boxes full of lollipops and biscuits. Marching bands, troops of boy scouts and girl guides, people
holding effigies of Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante, and floats carrying various beauty
queens preceded Old Saint Nick. The "Jolly Man in Red" was ceremoniously greeted at the door
of Times Store by its owners and the Mayor of Kingston. One by one the hundreds of children
waiting in long lines to tell Santa their Christmas wishes, made their way onto his comfortable lap.
Santa stayed in Times Store for almost three weeks. Of course, today, Times Store is no more.
Source :
www.geocities.com/shandycan /culture_notes.html
Peter Marsden: An Account of the Island of Jamaica (1788), Cynric R. Williams' A Tour through the Island of Jamaica
(London, 1826)"
Spanish Town, not far from the then popular Ferry Inn.
was he relaxing, using the tree as a rest stop along the Cringle's cotton tree.
way in his many travels. This man, Michael Scott, sat. Perhaps inspired by the pervasive calm he
96
felt in the shade of the gentle giant, he wrote about his time in Jamaica, inventing a dashing
young character named Tom Cringle who had left his native England on board a ship called the
Torch, to seek his fame and fortune. Scott based his writing on his own experiences, and he knew
the Jamaica of the 1820s and 30s well, for he too had arrived to seek his fortune. While on the
Tom Cringle's Log, the popular 1830s seafaring adventure tale for which Scott was to be
remembered and from which the tree was named, was replete with melodramatic stories of
piracy, smuggling, slavery and war. First published as a serial in Britain's Blackwoods magazine
from 1829 to 1833, it appeared as a novel in 1834. In Tom Cringle's Log, Scott revealed the
Its fall marked the demise of a historical landmark. Reported to be one of the largest cotton trees
on the island, if not the largest, Tom Cringle's tree had watched more than 300 years of Jamaican
history go by. Like many other cotton trees, this one was known for its vast size and ability to
dominate its surroundings. Witnesses said the mammoth tree fell apart limb by limb until the
crown crumbled, causing a sensation not unlike a minor earthquake. One of the branches is said
97
to have narrowly missed a truck. The National Trust indicated interest in seeing that pieces of the
branches were made into souvenirs. All that remained was a small green stalk along one of the
many roots for some, at the time, a symbol of hope that the tree would rise again.
A year earlier one of the Cringle tree's branches was removed to accommodate the highway. At
that time representatives from the Institute of Jamaica, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the
National Heritage Trust came together to plead for its preservation; Dr. Bernard Lewis, Director of
the IOJ, made the fateful prediction that the tree did not have long to live.
The Cringle tree was also mentioned in Lady Nugent's Journal of her stay in Jamaica from
The cotton tree, called the 'God Tree' by the Asante, is native to tropical America. Unlike most
tropical trees it sheds its leaves and for several months appears bare before creamy white
flowers begin to bloom, followed by new leaves. The Mayas of Guatemala regard the tree as
sacred and it is, in fact, the national tree of that country. In Jamaica, the Tainos used cotton trees
that one should never take an axe to a cotton tree without first sprinkling some white rum, for fear
of the spirits that lie within. Specific types of duppies known as 'Whooping Boy' are said to dwell
during its history the Cringle cotton tree was used as a hanging tree and that those duppies
Throughout Jamaican history, other cotton trees have given their names to places, including Spur
Tree Hill and Half-Way-Tree (the latter named by the English for the tree's location half way
between Kingston Harbour and Spanish Town; the tree, which no longer stands, was used as a
marker between the three plantations once owned by the wealthy Spaniards, Liguaney, de Yalis
and Lizama. It was also used as a resting place by slaves and English soldiers on long marches.
Rebecca Tortello
98
Sources: M. Scott. (1927). Tom Cringle's Log. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. P. Wright. (1966).
A-Z of Jamaican Heritage. Kingston: Heinnemann Education Books Caribbean Ltd., The Gleaner Co.
99
100
101
Art From A Lane From Central Kingston
102
A Wall In Arnett Gardens
103
104
Note
Will the community of Havana, in Arnett Gardens, respects the skills of the painter of the
above paintings, the work of this young painter who has a mental illness is most valued
and appreciated by tourists visiting Trench Town. These tourist general stop their buses
105
The question facing the community and its Member of Parliament , is how to encourage
this young artists and what can be done so that the work of this artist and others like him
Basil Fletcher
Thug Art,
A wall in the neighbourhood of Wolmers High School for Boys, National Heroes Circle,
Kingston, Jamaica W.I., commenting on the meaninglessness of life even while shouting
out “PEACE and Love.”
106
These pieces are also used to demark the
community as one supporting the “Gully Crew” and not the “Gaza Crew”.
IN MANY ways, our local history and culture can be viewed as a continuous journey towards an
ever increasing tolerance of free expression, no matter how distasteful, idiotic, offensive or
decadent such expression may be. While some songwriters, singers, rappers, and DJs of every
class and creed have used their talents (or lack thereof) to create a consciousness of which we
can be proud, some have been too generous with their uncouth manners and ignorance of issues
In our country where literacy is still not widespread and where the 'dancehall' phenomenon reigns
supreme, we are at times unwittingly forced to hear and acknowledge too high a level of shocking
raucousness and risqué behaviour. There seems not to be any care taken with the choice of
words in some of these 'culture songs' and neither is there any regard or concern about the
As I listened to the message in a song blasting on an amplified radio, I could not help but analyse
the presumed truism of the words of the song being played. The schoolers on the sidewalk were
107
all dancing and singing in cheerful agreement and unison as they repeated word for word the
lyrics that shotta clothes don't wash wid gal underwear. I wondered too, if these were indeed
To put those words in a song (being played on national radio) suggest to me that there is a
morbid fear or resentment about such a simple domestic chore. There must be an unwritten
mandate or understanding and acceptance that 'shotta' and 'rude boy' would lose their manhood
and subsequent 'badness' if such a chore or even a simple shower with the wrong rag ever took
place.
We are never too old to learn and quite often we have sought too complex a solution for problems
that are more easily solved than we dared to imagine. Neither the might of the security forces nor
the sobriety of the judges nor the compassion of the juries, nor the horror of the penal institutions
have been able to intimidate or suppress the ways and means of the 'shottas' and 'rude-boys'.
If all of us can be guided by the message in the song, then the best weapons of mass destruction
could be a simple little thong and a cheap wash-rag. If this is the wisdom we need to emasculate
and subdue them, we should give it a try lest we all continue to wither and perish as naught else
I am, etc.,
SONIA CHRISTIE
108
THE GROWTH of cellphone use among the Jamaican population has been nothing short of
phenomenal, confirming our well known reputation of volubility. Even street people living on the
It has been reported that if present trends continue, Jamaica may exceed America in the use of
cellphones on a per capita basis. According to the International Telecommunication Union, 57 per
cent of the U.S. population have wireless phones compared with 54 per cent in Jamaica, good
news for the three main providers of the service who compete in the Jamaica market. The
number of cellphones has increased from 13,000 in 1991 to well over a million at present. Digicel,
the bold Irish pioneer, is reported to have a customer base of a million subscribers; Cable and
Wireless, which was slow off the mark, 600,000 subscribers; and MiPhone, which recently
reorganised, 85,000 customers. The market may now be approaching saturation point and growth
in future years is not likely to be as dramatic as in the past. But the impact of the cellphone has
been indelibly stamped on the Jamaican psyche and culture for better and for worse.
The availability of cellphones has been a godsend to persons in the rural areas who for years
were unable to access regular landline service. But while cellphones have undoubtedly
contributed to business productivity they have also provided the criminal element with a new tool
for carrying out nefarious deeds. Crooks with cellphones alert their cronies about bank customers
That good and bad consequences flow from any new technological advance is well known as, for
example, the invention of the automobile which revolutionised industry and travel but which
became a dangerous tool in the hands of criminals and conquering armies. In the long course of
history, the advantages of technology have always outweighed the disadvantages and this is how
progress is measured.
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Selena Deleon – THE WORKOUT
IF YOU are contemplating starting an aerobic training programme, consider jogging. It is one of
the best ways to elevate your heart rate and improve cardiovascular fitness. Almost everyone is a
candidate for becoming one of Jamaica's joggers or runners. Training can be adapted to suit
various fitness levels and allows each individual to create personal fitness goals.
When you decide to begin, the first thing to do is to adapt a training programme. This includes a
mileage build-up schedule, injury prevention strategies, partners if any and location.
Anyone can initiate a running training programme by walking briskly. An 18 to 20-minute mile is
acceptable for a beginner, who can gradually decrease that walking time to about 15 minutes per
mile before attempting to increase the distance to three miles per session.
Interval training is the next step towards becoming a full-fledged runner, where you walk for five
minutes and gradually increase the speed to run-walking or jogging for two minutes, alternating
the two speeds, until you can increase the jogging time and decrease the walking time. Always
Do not attempt to accelerate your progress by trying to do too much too soon. Break your body in
gently. One of the great things about jogging is that the body adapts to it quickly. In just a few
weeks, by gradually adding distance and speed, a three-mile brisk walk can turn into a three-mile
jog.
INJURY-PREVENTION STRATEGIES
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1. Vary your exercise programme. Weight training and strength-building exercises keep your leg
muscles strong, so as to withstand the pressure that running puts on the joints.
2. Stretch. Today it is generally accepted that stretching after you run is all you need to maintain
3. Don't overdo it. Three to four days a week of jogging is enough to benefit your fitness.
5. Try to jog on soft surfaces, like grass or a treadmill. Concrete is the worst, because it has no
give. Asphalt is better than a concrete sidewalk, if you are on the road.
7. When starting an intense running programme, it is important to follow proper and balanced
nutrition with lots of water. Sports drinks are not recommended unless you are running for longer
than 90 minutes.
Jamaica is a great place to run. For a list of various marathons being hosted locally contact the
http://www.reggaemarathon.com/.
The endorphins produced by running provide an overall sense of well-being that can eventually
get you hooked. Get set to enjoy your "runner's high" and its many benefits
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LETTER OF THE DAY - Why the Singapore model wouldn't work here
In just 40 years, Singapore has been transformed from a poor, war-battered state teeming with
slums, an uneducated and exploding population, into a wealthy prosperous state boasting
But when the discussion turns to why we in Jamaica can't do it as well, that's just where we start
being unrealistic. In this discussion, I will not even touch the basis of the totalitarian power that
the dictator possesses and the dangers inherent in vesting so much authority in one man, but
Population control - a major part of any economic turnaround. To curtail Singapore's runaway
population, Lee Kuan Yew launched a campaign to encourage the Singaporeans to have two-
children families. He also followed it up with incentives to discourage having more than two
children, such as reduced tax relief for families with more than two kids, shorter maternity leave
and higher hospital charges. I can just hear the Jamaican masses now: "dem a try kill off black
Second big issue - amassing capital for investments. Lee Kuan Yew came up with the Central
Provident Fund, used by the government for economic development. This fund is financed by
workers' mandatory 25 per cent savings of their salary. The savings will be made available to the
employee when he turns 55. Can you smell the burning tyres yet?
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In order to maintain a disciplined society, draconian punishments are levied against even the
I don't know how well that would go down with our well-established streetside vending, begging,
Then there is the issue of freedom of speech, where public criticism of the government results in
immediate and severe legal repercussions. You know say a nuff radio talk show host woulda feel
dat!
And the list goes on. But I think this is enough to make my point. Bottom line - the tools of
governance available for economic development have to be tailored for the social realities of each
nation. A Singapore miracle is not possible in Jamaica because we are not Singapore.
Unfortunately, we are just going to have to find our own way to economic prosperity.
I am, etc.,
PAUL DUNCAN
pduncan428@googlemail.com
St. Andrew
>The Salvation Army centre located at 53 Lyndhurst Road that was recently robbed of $200,000
by thieves, has received an unexpected Christmas gift from students of the Convent of Mercy,
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The girls, all members of the school's Key Club, donated 10 large bags filled with clothes and
shoes, and $5,000 in cash. Students at the institution gave all the resources voluntarily.
Priscilla Spence, president of the club said, "It is our practice to give a helping hand if we can,
On Tuesday, December 5, The Gleaner published an article titled, 'Salvation Army robbed'. The
Lyndhurst Road facility was broken on over the previous weekend and $200,000 taken from the
"Our actions are in response to that article," said Mark Russell, club adviser. He added, "I was
doing some late reading when I saw the article. Immediately I thought it would be a good
opportunity to reinforce to the students the objective of the club, which is to be alert to the needs
Major Denzil Walcott, head administrator at the Lyndhurst Road centre, expressed appreciation,
stating that the donation, especially the clothing, will go a far way in re-energising the Salvation
Major Walcott revealed that starting early next year, the Salvation Army will embark on a
programme to remove homeless persons from the streets of downtown Parade in Kingston. "It is
our mission that there will not be one person seen lying on the sidewalk in that area," he said.
He added that the Salvation Army would collaborate with a number of residential homes for the
project.
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MOST OF us have low days when we just don't feel like doing the things we know we should be
doing. We call this being depressed. Now I am not referring to the deep depression which lasts
for a long time and seriously prevents you from functioning and which can cause mental and
physical illness. I am referring to what people call "having the blues" you just wake up some
mornings and don't feel like coping with the boring day-to-day routine.
A friend of mine goes shopping but, she explained, "it's not really a good solution if one of the
things that is causing the low feeling is lack of enough money to meet your needs (as you see
them)." She says as soon as the shopping is over, no matter how modest the purchase may be,
the guilt takes over and the feeling of depression returns, probably more intensely. So friends,
that's out!
Another friend (and I suspect she has a lot of company in this) goes on an eating binge. I don't
mean an extra helping of dessert, I mean a BINGE. like a whole roast chicken or half of a 12 inch
cheese cake. Or six patties (and I don't mean cocktail patties), or a dozen East Indian mangoes
Now what she usually suffers from is a MASSIVE case of indigestion, never mind the fear of
putting on three or four pounds. She then has to purge herself with some good old castor oil or
Another popular depression healer is "sculling" work. The trouble with this is, with Jamaica being
so small, you can't go anywhere as one of your colleagues from work (usually the one with the
biggest mouth) is sure to spy you at Hellshire licking back some fried fish or at Dunn's River Falls
My solutions
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Now, you may not like my solutions which follow but they do work. Do some gardening. Weed out
those "shame lady" from the bush on your sidewalk. Cut away the love bush and bag them
carefully and put them where they won't "catch". Then generally clean up the rest of the sidewalk
and your yard and if that doesn't cure you, ask the neighbours if you can do their yard work too.
How's that?
Or take everything out of your kitchen cupboards and wash the exotic kitchen implements or the
sixteen bowls you bought in a sale - things you haven't used in ages, if ever at all. Spray the
cupboard with insect spray and when it's aired out, wipe with disinfectant and then replace the
contents TIDILY. If there are usable items that you know you will never use, pack them carefully
and take them to the Salvation Army or to your church if a jumble sale is being planned.
Or you could put on your sneakers and go for a walk for as many miles as you can take without
collapsing. Now remember the return trip is likely to feel twice as long as the first part of the walk,
so leave room for getting home in an upright position and I don't mean an upright AND LOCKED
If you decide to take the day off but have to lie low in case your work colleagues see you hanging
out at the mall on your "sick" day, why not call up a few friends who you haven't spoken to for a
while and catch up on their life. Of course, if they are at work and say they can't talk because
they're busy, that should cheer you up somewhat as you are not too busy to work on curing your
depression.
Or you could stitch up those hems, sew on those buttons or clean all your shoes (yes, people still
do that).
Like my ideas? I don't feel so hot on most of them myself, but they do work. And if they are so
unappealing to you, why not get yourself in gear and get out of bed and go to work. It may be
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A word from my daughter.
“It was okay enough to read, not entirely boring but instead mildly interesting. I corrected
or changed some sentences where you give examples of things that may happen on the
sidewalks and roads that certain entities have done. It’s cool enough… I am not a road
person, I just want it to be built that more vehicles may have easy access to roads with
wide sidewalks about 1/3 of the road in width could allow for less bundling. Professional
stalls can also be built in which case the sidewalks would need to be extended and a lane
made for those who intend to stop on the roads to make purchases…like a lay by the
buses have. Stalls on one side of the depot and the sidewalks on the other and pedestrian
crossings available.” Jodi-Ann , Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
End
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