Errol Greene (left), executive director of the Kingston City Centre Improvement Company, takes Prime Minister P.J. Patterson through the plans to revive Kingston ahead of the Cricket World Cup in 2007.
-Rudolph Brown photo
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
PLANS ARE in high gear for the completion of a billion-dollar facelift to the City of Kingston before the staging of the Cricket World Cup in 2007, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson said yesterday.
In making the announcement, Mr. Patterson also highlighted the progress of five main infrastructure projects under the billion-dollar plan, which, he said, should improve transportation, attractions and the general aesthetics of the city's central business district. Errol Greene, chief executive officer of the Kingston City Centre Improvement Company (KCCIC), will spearhead the Kingston overhaul.
According to the Prime Minister, current estimates of expenditure on the entire plan amount to some $1.45 billion, inclusive of the East West Coast Road project, which will connect Marcus Garvey Drive and Michael Manley Boulevard.
"In effect, the concept here is to extend the dual carriageway from the Michael Manley Boulevard along the waterfront on to Marcus Garvey Drive and I am advised that consultations are taking place with the National Works Agency on this project," said Mr. Patterson.
Phase one of the new transportation centre to be located on land in the environs of the Railway Corporation's headquarters and Port Royal Street, is scheduled for completion by year-end.
TRANSPORTATION CENTRE
The transportation centre will see the coming together of the 10 existing bus terminals in Kingston under one multi-modal centre which should be completed by July next year. The redesign of the St. William Grant Park is also expected to be completed by March next year.
There will also be serious focus on the regularization, rebuilding and management of the market district which should be up, and running by December 2007.
The Prime Minister also urged members of the private sector to come on board with more contributions to assist the projects. "I announced last November that private sector contributors to the KCCIC would be allowed to claim a tax rebate of 50 per cent of the total donation over a three-year period in equal instalments," he said. "To date this incentive has been instrumental in attracting contributions of approximately $63 million from several corporate entities. I think I should remind everyone that the idea is that for the first $500 million of expenditure, the private sector would contribute $250 million to match the Govern-ment's $250 million," he continued.
Mr. Patterson explained that several communities such as Kingston Gardens surrounding Sabina Park will also be assisted in improving the general outlay of the area to complete the necessary improvements expected to attract tourists to Kingston for Cricket World Cup 2007.
