Devon House vows to be better neighbour

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Please permit me the opportunity to respond to an article titled 'Devon House noise nuisance', published in The Gleaner on Wednesday July 9, 2014.

The Devon House Heritage Site is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and is closed twice per year - on Good Friday and Christmas Day.

The property is home to a variety of businesses offering diverse products and services, including restaurants and bars that are open up until midnight in some cases. Outside of our normal hours, all events held at the heritage site are approved by the Jamaica Constabulary Force, St Andrew Central Division HQ, with very few of them extending until a 2 a.m. end time.

As managers of a public property that caters primarily to pedestrian traffic, we take great pride in ensuring Devon House is a place that all Jamaicans can be proud of - safe, clean, and great for families. Our recent award of a Certificate of Excellence 2014 by the world's largest travel site, TripAdvisor, means that we need to work much harder to ensure that the heritage site and, by extension, Kingston, is seen as a desirable place for all visitors, both local and foreign.

This success also comes with its challenges, and it is sad that some of our patrons are unable to conduct themselves in a respectful and disciplined way. This is not unique to Devon House or any other public space whether here or abroad. Decorum is not something that signage or security personnel can teach.

Notwithstanding, our on-site team continues to engage patrons daily regarding their behaviour on our property and use of the space, both during the daytime and especially at nights, to ensure compliance with the rules governing the property.

We recognise that the writer is passionate about our property and are grateful for this feedback, which includes several recommendations moving forward. To this end, we will continue to be vigilant in ensuring events adhere to a 2 a.m. end time.

Our work is ongoing and greater emphasis will be placed on ensuring Devon House continues to welcome the public, while being even more mindful of our neighbours when serving as a host location for events.

JANETTE TAYLOR

Executive Director

Devon House

Development Company