Perhaps the reference is to those who benefit from the millions of dollars put into circulation by these institutions. Or maybe those who enjoy Kingston's only waterfront park.

Ocean Boulevard runs from the Bank of Jamaica to the Craft Market where it connects with Marcus Garvey Drive. Its total length is less than one mile. Yet it is one of the most important one-mile roads in the country not only because of the important institutions located there but also because of its involvement in the transformation of the area and the resultant development which created a modern skyscraper waterfront for Kingston, and a modern port, now being hailed as likely to be the biggest container port in the Caribbean.

DEPUTATION OF BUSINESSMEN

The origin of this development arose from the visit of a deputation of businessmen from Harbour and Port Royal streets who came to see me in the mid-1960s, while I was Minister of Development and Welfare. Largely, they were wharf owners involved in shipping. The leader was Charlie DaCosta who I believe was then the chairman of Lascelles DeMercado. He put to me a proposal that all their waterfront properties and their finger-pier wharves sticking out into the sea, could move to new lands being reclaimed by a Matalon company in the western end of the city. This new area under reclamation would be substantial and would adjoin the city dump, another large unused area of land. The dump would be moved further west, allowing that land to be linked to the reclaimed land to create the large Newport West Industrial Estate (including later, the Freezone).

The port to be constructed would involve alongside piers, that is, accommodating the ships along the side of the pier instead of docking at piers jutting out to sea in an unsightly manner. This was the modern concept of port development and the wharf owners wanted to modernise in order to provide more usable space to operate and speed up the on-loading and discharge of cargo.

GOV'T APPROVAL NEEDED

What was needed was the approval of government to bless the move. I asked if they would exchange their holdings on Harbour and Port Royal streets for land that the government was entitled to receive for its share of the reclamation. Such land would be selected by government to be on the waterfront to facilitate the port development.

The delegation agreed that this would be possible, subject to valuations. I was enthused because when the old and somewhat decrepit buildings on Port Royal and Harbour streets were demolished, the lands would provide a great opportunity for developing a modern waterfront for the city.

Agreement was reached with all parties and the moves were set in motion for the creation of a modern port at Newport West and a modern waterfront development in downtown Kingston.

To get the development going downtown, I established the Kingston Waterfront Redevelopment Company. The concept for the downtown development was fleshed out between myself and Moses Matalon who was spearheading the reclamation of Newport West.

While this plan was being put together, I initiated a scheme for the development of Ocho Rios by the reclamation of the beach, now known as Turtle Beach, which expanded a small strip of roadside beach along the main road used by fishermen to accommodate their canoes by the addition of 80 acres of the finest beach in Jamaica. To carry out this development, I established the St. Ann Redevelopment Company.

With two such waterfront developments under way and similar developments in both Negril and Montego Bay to be added, I established the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to be the umbrella organisation for all such projects, as well as other types of developments. Moses Matalon was named as chairman and Gloria Knight appointed to be the chief executive officer. Moses Matalon, in particular, brought to the UDC considerable initiative and insight.

It was decided that the waterfront development would be mixed, offering offices, apartments, shopping and a financial centre. The apartments were added to test the market for downtown living. They have been fully occupied by middle class professionals, largely.

The waterfront development was a ribbon development, that is, long and narrow. The plan was to broaden the development into the areas behind the waterfront. But soon after, the 1970s descended on the downtown area putting an end to the prospects of expansion, although the Ocean Boulevard area of the waterfront is virtually crime free.

TRIBUTES

The practice of naming areas, buildings or roads after public figures has been widely used as tributes, some deservingly, others undeservingly. In neither case do I remember any call for a "check with stakeholders". When a statue of N.N. Nethersole was erected in front of the Bank of Jamaica, in the same Kingston Waterfront, there was no call "to check stakeholders". Nethersole was the Finance Minister who established the Bank of Jamaica and the tribute was deserving. When the College of Performing and Creative Arts was named after Edna Manley, no one called for a "check with stakeholders", although I conceived, structured and planned the college which was then built by the PNP government. Edna Manley brought valuable new insights to the emerging artistic movement in Jamaica and was an eminent artist in her own right. The tribute to her was deserving.

When it was decided to imprint Michael Manley's photo on the Jamaican $1,000 bill, believe it or not, no one 'checked' the 2.6 million stakeholders. Manley has many achievements to his credit but, regretfully, he will be remembered mostly as the man who did more than anyone else to destroy the Jamaican economy. As a consequence, he would be an inappropriate figure on any Jamaican currency. Ironically, the currency has so depreciated under both his administration and that of his party successor that the coinage bearing the three most important figures of Jamaican history, Norman Manley, Bustamante and Garvey, now have only the token or almost worthless values of $5, $1 and 25 cents. "Check the stakeholders" on that!

In the circumstances, I do not wish my name to become the subject of any controversy concerning any tribute to me. Accordingly, I say to the KSAC, thanks, but with regret, no thanks!