Prime Minister Bruce Golding has stated that major plans are being put in place for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston, including the possibility of a cruise shipping port in Port Royal.

"We have some major plans to transform downtown and to link it to Port Royal. We will be looking at the possibility of a cruise shipping port being established there and recreating the tradition of the rich culture of Port Royal. We want that city to come alive again," Mr Golding said.

"We are actually in discussion with a cruise ship company; they were actually here about three weeks ago. They were very impressed, and we are having discussions with them and we are to meet with them the second week of March," he added.

Golding was speaking on his monthly radio call-in programme, 'Jamaica House Live', recently, as he responded to a concern raised by one of the callers on the state of downtown Kingston.

redevelopment

The Prime Minister also noted that other plans for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston include the renovation of Sir William Grant Park and the construction of the new transport centre.

'Jamaica House Live' is aired on 10 radio stations: RJR 94 FM, Nation-wide Radio Digital AM, Love 101 FM, Hot 102, KLAS FM, Power 106 FM, Roots FM, Kool FM, Bess 100 FM and IRIE FM.

The programme is part of the Government's thrust to open the lines of communication and to hear suggestions, comments and receive general feedback from Jamaicans, at home and abroad. It provides the forum for Government to report on its stewardship in implementing policies and programmes to improve the quality of the lives of Jamaican citizens.

It is developed and produced by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports and the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).