Inasmuch as we understand his dilemma, Desmond McKenzie, the chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, must hang tough.

For, as head of the capital's local government, he has been there before, if not in Half-Way Tree, then elsewhere in the city. The request is usually to allow the vendors to stay a few days more. Or, few weeks ... until after Christmas. Then, it is until after the summer, or until the children are back in school.

Then, the argument evolves into how long people have been vending in this or that area without anyone complaining, so why should the 'wicked people' in authority want to move them now. Never mind the disorder, chaos, congestion or problems of hygiene in the public space.

Evolution in Half-Way Tree

The evolution is clear in Half-Way Tree. Like other areas of the city, this important centre hub had grown hard and gritty. Vendors took over sidewalks and spilled over into the streets. Taxis parked anywhere. It was a free-for-all for minibuses. Rules didn't matter.

Occasionally, the authorities flexed their muscles and things improved for a time. Indeed, things appeared to have improved with the opening of the new transport centre. Traffic congestion eased for a time through Half-Way Tree square. The vending situation appeared less disordered.

But this did not last long. In recent months, the shacks have overtaken the sidewalks, often encroaching on to the streets. Traversing the area, especially in motor vehicles, is hellish.

Indeed, according to Mayor McKenzie, up to recently, only 150 vendors were registered to operate in the area, a mere 66 of whom were up to date with their registration fees. But based on the latest count, 621 were operating there. Many of them pose health risks, like those who offer cooked food without proper sanitation.

So, now Mr McKenzie wants to fix the problem and return order to the square, to end the congestion and reduce opportunity for criminality that has become rampant. He plans to clean up the area today.

The response is predictable: There are the children whose school fees are to be paid and so on. Or, why should people have proper stalls when any shack will do? Who cares about civic pride anyway?

Well, we all ought to. The management of public spaces is part of the process of ensuring public order, and, ultimately, is lessening the environment that encourages criminality and violence. It is about doing the small things and getting them right.

Insisting on order in Half-Way Tree is among the small things which some will deem to be tough. But Mr McKenzie should be assured that it is the right thing to do.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.