JSE to manage part of Gold Street in downtown Kingston under deal with KSAMC

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has signed an agreement with the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE), granting the financial institution primary responsibility for a section of Gold Street in downtown Kingston.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the JSE will use the area for extended parking and take charge of maintaining and beautifying the space, part of a broader effort to revitalise the capital city. The move also aims to curb longstanding issues such as illegal dumping and limited parking, both of which have plagued the downtown area for years.

Gold Street, which neighbours the JSE, has historically faced challenges linked to gang activity and neglect.

Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, said the move aligns with a larger vision for a cleaner, safer city, and is more than providing additional parking.

“For us, it is about curbing illegal dumping, repurposing neglected areas, and turning these spaces into places that reflect pride, order, and care. This initiative directly ties to our cleaner Kingston initiative, and today is a clear example of that vision in action,” he said during Monday’s MOU signing at the JSE offices.

JSE Managing Director Dr Marlene Street Forrest said the move is strategic. "We have had so many complaints from persons [who say] ‘we want to come, but we don’t want our cars to be towed… so we cannot’. With this, the sky’s the limit."

She added: “Downtown must be revitalised, and one way to do that is to ensure that there is access to parking. I know that our responsibilities under that MOU, is to beautify and keep that area… I’m really happy that we could get this done.”

Street Forrest also highlighted the JSE’s broader commitment to supporting community transformation. “I would also like to see us continue, not only with the parking, but working on all the other things that we have spoken about,” she said, pointing to collaboration with the social stock exchange as one way to deepen engagement.

- Corey Robinson

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