The ongoing push to revitalise New Kingston moved further into implementation on Friday, September 18, as Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce,  Delano Seiveright, MP, and Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, led public- and private-sector stakeholders on an extensive walk-through of the New Kingston Business District.

The walk-through, which followed a working meeting at the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, allowed stakeholders to assess first-hand longstanding and emerging challenges affecting the district and identify areas requiring immediate and sustained attention. It forms part of a broader initiative to strengthen coordination among Government agencies, the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), the Jamaica Constabulary Force, businesses, property owners, and social-service organisations.

Minister Seiveright said New Kingston’s importance to Jamaica’s economy makes sustained attention to the area essential.

“New Kingston is one of Jamaica’s most important business districts. Thousands of Jamaicans come here every day to work, conduct business and access services, while the area accommodates major corporate offices, hotels, restaurants, entertainment establishments and significant investment. We cannot allow problems that can be fixed through coordination and consistent follow-through to undermine that,” he said.

During Friday’s walk-through, stakeholders examined issues around sanitation and street sweeping along the Knutsford Boulevard corridor, drainage, damaged and uneven sidewalks, street lighting, tree trimming, gully conditions and opportunities for streetscaping and beautification. The team also reviewed conditions around Grenada Crescent, Trinidad Terrace, the Dumfries area, and public spaces in and around Emancipation Park.

Minister Seiveright said public order remains a central pillar of the initiative and must be addressed alongside improvements to infrastructure, landscaping and sanitation.

“We want New Kingston clean, safe, orderly and attractive. That requires enforcement where necessary, but it also requires functioning infrastructure, proper lighting, clean streets and government agencies doing what they are supposed to do. It all has to work together,” he said.

The revitalisation effort also includes a social-intervention component focused on homelessness, mental-health challenges and drug addiction, with further engagement expected with health and social-service authorities to strengthen support for vulnerable persons.

“Compassion and public order are not mutually exclusive. Some of the persons we see on the streets need serious mental-health, addiction and social support. We must connect them with that assistance while also protecting the right of businesses, workers, residents and visitors to use public spaces safely and comfortably,” Minister Seiveright said.

The initiative brings together the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, KSAMC, Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), National Works Agency (NWA), National Water Commission (NWC), National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), Jamaica Public Service (JPS), National Housing Trust (NHT), Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), health and social-service agencies, the New Kingston Civic Association and private-sector stakeholders.

Mayor Swaby said taking stakeholders onto the streets was important to moving from discussion to practical action and ensuring a common understanding of the challenges and interventions required.

Minister Seiveright stressed that the initiative is intended to deliver sustained improvements rather than a one-off clean-up.

“This cannot be a situation where we clean up today and six months from now we are back at square one. The objective is sustained improvement – better public order, better maintenance, better infrastructure, a stronger response to vulnerable persons and a business district that reflects the importance of New Kingston to Jamaica,” he said.

The initiative will continue with targeted agency interventions, further stakeholder engagement and follow-up inspections as agreed works are implemented.