News

Money for parking

THE BUSINESS OF unscrupulous persons extorting money from motorists in downtown Kingston, was raised last week. As a result of this, THE STAR sought to get the answers to the following questions from Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Desmond McKenzie.

Is the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation aware of people extorting money from motorists for parking in downtown Kingston?

"We are aware that it is something done on the street. However, our checks have revealed that it is taking place not at the legal parking lots, but where there are roadside parking and that responsibility has been taken away from the KSAC by the Central Government."

How did the Council become aware of these extortion rackets, and what is being done about it?

"A number of persons have complained and reported the matter to us. We have worked with the police, especially Assistant Commissioner Keith Gardener, and have done a number of operation and have held a number of persons but can only hold them for a time."

What do you think is needed to bring a stop to this extortion racket?

"I think what is needed is a consistent presence of the police. That is not there and because of that these guys are able to continue doing it. But it is a serious problem affecting sections of downtown, Kingston, and we must make motorists aware that these men are not authorised to collect money and they (motorists) are not obligated to pay them for parking."

Have you ever seen this happening?

"I've seen it for myself. The Town Clerk (Errol Green) and I had to intervene and put a stop to one such case. But we can't monitor it on a 24-hour basis."

Many motorists have complained that there is not enough parking facility Downtown so they are forced to park where they can and by so doing and 'forced' to pay money to these thugs. What is your response to that?

"I have to make it known that there is sufficient parking in downtown Kingston to facilitate people. But we have developed a culture where we want to park right at the door to where we are going to transact business and in any developing country there are areas designated for parking. It is an indiscipline culture we have developed and we will be pursuing persons who park illegally and remove their vehicles."

The Council recently embarked on a drive to remove illegal billboards from the streets of the Corporate Area, what about the erection of street signs?

"We are in the process of doing that. We have already done most of downtown Kingston. We have done several communities such as Beverly Hill, Patrick City and Harbour View, among others. The number of signs we have erected is 35 per cent more than what was there and in downtown 90 per cent of the area now have signs. The signs are actually a responsibility of the National Works Agency but we feel as a Municipality if they seem lagging we can help in that drive."