Enrico Stennett

Last week we wrote about the beginning of Kingston's social decline as seen through the eyes of Enrico Stennett in his book, Buckra Massa Pickney. The article elicited some strong email responses, some of which we will share with you today.

DOWNTOWN KINGSTON STILL VIBRANT, BUT ...

I read with interest 'The beginning of Kingston's decline' as attributed to Mr Stennett (whom I know). Whilst I agree that what is called 'Downtown' has been left by many of the previous traders, mainly on King Street, and the other business people, for example, lawyers, and other professionals, who move 'Uptown', downtown Kingston is still a vibrant people city.

As a Kingstonian, who visits regularly, I am still hopeful that the Kingston Restoration Authority will seriously implement plans that seem to be 'on hold'. Kingston as a city (Downtown and Uptown) could also be linked with Port Royal. (You) forgot to mention the Tivoli and also Tropical as cinemas, and I do take exception to his characterisation of movie-goers, as I consider myself an ardent moviegoer at the time, as entertainment was limited.

Yes, the Shady Groves, Adastra, Sugar Hill, Silver Slipper, Bournemoth Baths nightclubs were all available, and I do not wish to suggest that we did not have criminality (cannot forget Ivan Martin, can we? He has now been immortalised on screen and also on the London stage, and is also now being considered for the United States and Canadian stages).

As a former Gleaner employee at the Harbour Street premises, I consider myself a Kingstonian, so much so that when I am asked if I am a Jamaican, my reply is usually I am a Kingstonian, as all other Jamaicans residing in the United Kingdom refer to their birth parish.

Yes, downtown Kingston needs investments, but the Kingston Restoration Authority, in collaboration with the government of whatever party and other agencies, needs to seriously consider what is to be Kingston and St Andrew, the capital city of Jamaica.

-Earle Robinson

NOT A WORD ON POLITICS

It is always enlightening to hear from those who remember the old days. That story of American entertainment, cowboys and movie gangsters could be repeated in every Caribbean Island, and it would have a familiar ring to it. But I noticed that not a word was said about politics. It would be nice to have more historical reflections.

-John A. Moore

I WANT TO KNOW MORE

I was born in Jamaica, but now live in New York City, and try to read The Gleaner from time to time. This article, 'The beginning of Kingston's decline', I found to be extremely interesting, and would like for you to direct me to other literature on the subject, and on the colour and class issues back in Jamaica's earlier history. Too often, I associate such problems and/or conditions with the United States or Europe, but these things occurred in my homeland. I was not fully aware of the magnitude of it.

Thanks.

-Wayne Walters

JAMAICA IS DYING

Interesting article. I have thought long and hard as to why Jamaica has become the way it has. I have come to the same conclusion as the gentleman in your article. If Jamaica had a government to speak of with any vision, the first thing they should do is downplay American culture; it is a cancer to your society and your country is dying.

- Mario Smith

NOSTALGIA

I read your article on old Kingston. I remember it quite well the way you described it. Oh, it was so peaceful. I was about seven years old in the late 1950s, but I remember my mother taking my brother and me to Hope Gardens, then called the Royal Botanical Gardens. She took us there once a month on a Sunday whenever the Jamaica Military band played there.

We used to have a picnic on the grass. She would cook rice and peas and chicken - I hated the peas. We rode on the old Jamaica Utilities 'Chi Chi white' buses taken over by the Jamaica Omnibus Service. My mother used to take us to the pantomime at the Ward Theatre. We never missed the yearly show. Louise Bennett, Charles Hyatt and Ranny Williams performed.

Everybody back then seemed nice and peaceful. The police were also nice and polite. There were few murders in Jamaica back then, maybe fewer than 10 per year. And, it was mostly domestic, wife\husband, and so on.

Downtown, near Harbour Street, we used to go to the molasses plant near the wharf and scoop up as much molasses as we could; it ran in an open culvert. Christmas time we were taken to Nathan's store for hot dogs or hamburgers. I preferred the ice cream from the old dairy farmers' restaurant.

I could go on and on, but to wrap it up, in my view, politics ruined Jamaica. The violence started out being political, right after the British left Jamaica in the early 1960s. Then, it turned criminal. Now, it's out of control. Oh, I miss old Jamaica.

-Fagan

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com

Children plant mangrove trees along the Palisadoes main road with downtown Kingston in the background. - Photo by Paul Williams