Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
THE KINGSTON and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has requested an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to address concerns that the much-anticipated downtown Kingston redevelopment programme has stalled.
During yesterday's monthly council meeting at the KSAC's Church Street offices, Desmond McKenzie, Mayor of Kingston, said he was concerned at the project's failure to take off.
Mr. McKenzie revealed that in a meeting with the Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), the council was told that refurbishing of the St. William Grant Park and construction of a new transportation centre should have started by the end of April.
"But to this date, not even the tendering process for St. William Grant Park has been completed and funding for the transportation centre has not been put in place," he said.
GOING NOWHERE
The mayor said that these two important aspects of the redevelopment of downtown Kingston were "going nowhere."
"I am convinced that there is more talk than action as it relates to the preparation for the major sporting event," said the mayor, referring to the 2007 World Cup cricket tournament.
Seven matches will be played in Kingston at Sabina Park.
Mr. McKenzie said he was seeking the intervention of Mrs. Simpson Miller.
"In light of this, I have asked the Prime Minister for an urgent meeting to ensure that the role of the KSAC is not undermined in this process."
In March, Francis Kennedy, chairman of the KCCIC, told The Gleaner that the plan to resuscitate rundown sections of downtown Kingston would exceed the budget. He said design changes to the transportation centre were the budget buster.
The construction of the transport hub, which will be located in the vicinity of Water Lane to Port Royal Street, was projected to cost approximately $180 million, but the figure has jumped significantly to about $350 million.
At that time, the UDC, project manager for KCCIC's plans to improve the Business Improvement District, said it was awaiting word from the KCCIC regarding the additional funding.
However, Mr. Kennedy pledged that the increase would not be a deterrent to the completion of the project. He was unavailable to give an update on the projects as he is off the island.
