Elizabeth Morgan | Kingston – Jamaica’s capital – a tragedy

KINGSTON, THE capital of Jamaica, up to 1962, when the island became independent, was a quite vibrant city. Many of us of a certain age can recall visits to downtown Kingston in the late 1950s and early ‘60s for shopping, the department stores on King Street; business activities, the law and insurance firms on Duke Street, the merchants and brokerage houses on Harbour and Port Royal streets, and the financial institutions.

People attended school and church, and were entertained at the Ward Theatre, Ormsby Hall and other venues. Kingston is on the world’s seventh best natural harbour, which had Victoria Pier busy with shipping, naval, merchant, passenger and pleasure boats. Up to the 1960s, Jamaicans were proud to call downtown Kingston and surrounding areas our capital. We would have had no reservations about taking visitors downtown. Today, the pride has waned for many of us.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Before 1692, Port Royal was the commercial centre of Jamaica with the political and administrative capital at Spanish Town. A small settlement was across the harbour on the Liguanea plains, which mainly had estates and pens. After the earthquake of June 7, 1692, this settlement expanded with the relocation of people. To expand the settlement, 200 acres of land was acquired from Col William Beeston. A new town was established which became Kingston bounded by North Street, East Street, West Street, and Harbour Street originally. Eventually, an expanding Kingston became a busy commercial centre. Kingston became a parish in 1693.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Kingston, with its fine harbour, became increasingly important in trade, the import and export of goods, and the related services. Kingston had both commercial and residential areas, as well as foreign consulates.

In 1872, the capital of Jamaica was officially moved to Kingston transferring the legal and political offices from Spanish Town. In 1882, there was a devastating fire in the business district. On January 14, 1907, there was a catastrophic earthquake. In the aftermath, the city was rebuilt. It rebounded as a centre of economic and cultural activities. Some institutions took the opportunity to relocate, moving further into the parish of St Andrew. In 1923, for coordinated municipal administration, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) was established. Nevertheless, Kingston remained Jamaica’s capital, the economic, cultural and political heartbeat of the island.

THE GRADUAL DECLINE

Following independence in 1962, there was the hope that Kingston would be further developed and downtown, the heart of the city, would remain intact, and as vibrant as ever. The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaica Manufacturers Association both had their headquarters downtown. The plan was to have government offices around the Race Course (now National Heroes Park). The Urban Development Corporation was established in 1968.

In the 1960s, what was Knutsford Park, a racetrack, was developed into a residential and commercial area in St Andrew which became known as New Kingston. With an unsettled political atmosphere and increasing crime, businesses and residents started to migrate from downtown to uptown. Shopping malls opened on Constant Spring Road, starting with Tropical Plaza, and retail businesses also moved uptown. The pier was also relocated and the craft market.

In the 1980s, with the development of the Kingston waterfront and Jamaica becoming the site of the UN International Seabed Authority with the opening of the Conference Centre, it was hoped that there could be a reversal of the exodus and downtown Kingston could be revived. With all the plans for urban rehabilitation, downtown Kingston has hardly been revived. While downtown the courts have been upgraded; GraceKennedy has remained; the Digicel headquarters is there, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; downtown Kingston remains an eyesore. Note that the Chamber of Commerce and several government offices are no longer there.

THE TRAGEDY

On recent visits downtown, in spite of efforts being made by various groups, abandoned buildings were seen and the impression gained was of a wasteland, the shelter for destitute people. King Street is a shadow of its 1950s self. The architectural beauty is there in the structures of the abandoned buildings, such as the former ScotiaBank and J. Wray and Nephew buildings. Imposing churches are in need of renovation. The Ward Theatre looks neglected. The St William Grant Park seems to be soulless concrete. Certain parts of Kingston on the west side are roads of collapsing and burnt-out buildings, trees are growing out of derelict buildings. On the east side, other historic buildings are also crumbling. Kingston, our capital, tells a tragic tale of neglect.

National Heroes Park remains a car park and dust bowl with no sign of a new parliament building.

On the east side, information is that a call centre is being built at the location of the former Palace Theatre and that apartment buildings are being constructed in the area. This must be progress.

When a country’s capital has been allowed to descend into ruinate, what does it say about failures during 63 years of independence? The derelict state of our capital reflects badly on all of us.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com