The Editor, Sir:

The Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, has expressed concern that the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) is not pursuing certain critical areas that would enable us to welcome our visitors with true Jamaican hospitality to Cricket World Cup 2007.

The extent and diversity of his concern are reflected in The Gleaner of August 24, focusing on the unavailability of financial resources and the slow pace of the needed improvement to prepare the city for this event.

He characterised the city of Kingston as being "nasty and dirty." Notwithstanding several points of difference over which the mayor has pronounced, there seems to be a deafening silence from the Government, in particular, the Minister of Local Government.

While the challenges of the sorry state of the city persist, there has been little or no obvious systematic approach in addressing the city's problems. The exemplary state of the constituency of South East St. Andrew is characterised by waste water seeping on the roadway that is riddled with potholes, derelict buildings and the loosely stored garbage which litters the narrow streets, suggesting the standard which the mayor will commit the city of Kingston to Cricket World Cup 2007 organisers.

I think the Government needs to establish what constitutes readiness of the city for Cricket World Cup 2007, so that the KSAC and the country can be a part of the process.

No meaningful dialogue

There seems to be a level of ambiguity in the expectation between the Government and the KSAC. The KSAC needs to be informed precisely of the extent of its role and obligation.

Concluding from the current impasse, there seems to be no meaningful dialogue between both parties on the needs to achieve stated goals for preparedness of the city.

The Mayor of Kingston's effective management style creates a fresh perspective on good governance in the country. This paradigm shift at the KSAC to be proactive in achieving its objectives, in my mind, does not sit well with the governing PNP administration.

Obstacles of inefficiency are being actively pursued against the KSAC. The availability of adequate financial resources to the KSAC is an important component to successfully carry out its legitimate functions; starving the corporation of funding is tantamount to sabotage.

Significant changes have been observed in the management of the city, therefore, the mayor and his councillors should not be relegated from the development activities of the city, but efforts be made to aid them in preparing the city of Kingston for Cricket World Cup 2007.

Considering the anticipated benefits to be derived from a successful staging of the event and the downside of bad publicity that can accrue if there is failure, the Government should avoid political manoeuvring and promote a cohesive agenda to prepare the city for the occasion.

I am, etc.,

CLAUDE RIDDELL

Claude24-7@hotmail.coma

Caretaker (East Central St. Andrew)