Beckford Street clean-up forms part of downtown Kingston sanitation push

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) on Sunday carried out a major clean-up exercise along Beckford Street in downtown Kingston. It comes as the authorities move to address longstanding sanitation and infrastructure concerns in the country's main commercial hub. 

The initiative, conducted in coordination with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and the National Water Commission (NWC), is part of a broader push to improve public health conditions and restore order in the area.

Mayor of Kingston and Chairman of the KSAMC Andrew Swaby said vendors were given advance notice of the operation.

“Two weeks ago, we would have given notice to the vendors on Beckford Street that we are coming in to wash down the area and make a proper assessment of what are some of the things that should be done,” Swaby explained.

He said JPS assessed lighting conditions in the area and is expected to return during the week to address identified issues, while the NWC will examine ongoing concerns related to sewer and utility infrastructure.

Municipal workers carried out extensive cleaning, including washing down sections of the street and clearing clogged drains.

“We would have cleaned the drains while we were washing down the area… because a lot of the drains were clogged up,” he noted.

Swaby said vendors were allowed some flexibility in vending space but urged strict adherence to designated boundaries.

“Stay within the lines that are allotted to you. We want to make sure that we protect your safety, we protect your goods, and we have orderly operations here,” he said.

He also appealed for clear access for merchants and delivery vehicles.

“The merchants… have delivery trucks that come in, and they would want for their goods to be offloaded in an orderly way… just like the vendors, the merchants have a right to access to the road and to the space,” Swaby said.

Some vendors welcomed the exercise after initial uncertainty.

“It is a good look… we are quite happy because we want the place to be clean,” said vendor Keisha, who has operated in the area for more than 25 years. “We slept here last night to help get the place cleaned up, so we are good,” she added.

Another vendor, Michelle Cowen, said the operation was better understood after clarification. “When I came this morning and got a full understanding, I was quite happy. They said it’s just a clean-up drive… mark out the street and go back to normal,” she said.

Swaby said the broader aim is to restore order in the commercial hub.

“We are trying to bring some law and order back on Beckford Street,” he said.

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