Letter of the Day | Downtown Kingston’s revival should begin with bathrooms

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Every business should have adequate bathroom facilities for patrons and workers. Licenses must not be renewed without those civilized elements.

Establishments that fail to comply should be closed. Credit is due to food establishments like Mother’s, KFC, and Burger King for providing restroom facilities.

The question is how can we revive downtown Kingston Jamaica without basic infrastructure like public restrooms? 

The KSAMC must install portable male and female restrooms around North, South, East, and West Parade. Use corners where public urination occurs as indicators. Mobile units should service Barry, Orange, and Princess Streets to end this unhealthy situation. 

Parking policy also hurts revival. Higglers block spaces with barrels, yet KSAMC tow trucks remove cars, not barrels or stalls. Barry Street, once clear, is now congested. Charging shoppers high parking fees will drive more people away. Many have already abandoned downtown.

Transport is failing too. Last JUTC buses to Papine, August Town, Harbour View, Port Royal, and Spanish Town leave at 7:59 pm. Shops close at 8:30 pm. Higglers sell until 10:00 pm. Last buses should run no earlier than 10:00 pm or later.

After 10:00 pm, only police checking papers by Ward Theatre remain. The Mayor should consider visiting downtown after 8:00 pm.

Downtown Kingston’s revival needs sanitation, transport, and common sense. 

MICHAEL SPENCE