IN THE wake of Sunday's tragedy at Wildman Street in Central Kingston the KSAC has disclosed that an audit started in 1997 had shown more than 500 buildings in the Corporate Area which should be demolished, repaired, or declared dangerous.
The death of two young boys has given new impetus to the audit. They were crushed by a crumbling wall, part of the dereliction which is commonplace in the ghetto along with shacks and other detritus of urban ramshackle.
The knee-jerk reaction of the municipality is to be expected even as spokesmen cite the parallel responsibility of the owners of property such as those at Wildman Street. We recall that earlier this year the Prime Minister himself launched a Zinc Fence Replacement Programme for inner city communities. The idea was to replace shabby metal sheeting, which hides substandard living conditions, with more aesthetic perimeter fencing such as concrete blocks.
This is an aspect of urban renewal which puts more emphasis on externals than on the quality of living. And thus the tragedy revives the question of inner-city degradation and how to change it. The Hamilton Proposal and other initiatives suggest a multi-faceted approach with Government laying the groundwork of basic facilities. Owners of property, the people themselves, and whatever bureaucracy delays the demolition of dangerous structures must act with more urgency.
There is poignant irony in the fact that Junior Kennedy, 7, and Davar Brown, an infant of 18 months, died while they were playing with toys they got at a treat the day before. Such treats are a traditional gesture of goodwill a caring society so often renders to the underprivileged.
A derelict wall has rendered that gesture inadequate. Safe and adequate shelter is the minimum that any community in the capital city should guarantee its citizens, young and old.
The crumbling wall of Wildman Street is a tragic metaphor for a society on the brink.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
