KINGSTON, the Jamaican capital, is to undergo a major facelift in a project being spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Environment, in collaboration with several private sector organisations.

The project – City of Kingston Beautification Programme – was launched yesterday on the steps of the Bank of Jamaica, and will be implemented in several communities bordering the major road network from Rockfort to Six Miles.

Work will involve the removal of solid waste and derelict vehicles from within the communities, as well as the patching of roads, clearing of drains, improvement of sewerage and portable water pipes, and the implementation of ‘security initiatives’.

It was not clear, however, if the project will involve the removal of zinc fences.

Work is expected to take between six and eight weeks, and will cost approximately $323.6 million.

Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie, in his address at the launch, said all the buildings in the city would be getting a facelift under the project.

“An approach has been made to the major paint distributors in the country to partner with the KSAC and the downtown business community in giving each building in the city of Kingston a facelift,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie made it clear, however, that the project was not being undertaken in preparation for Cricket World Cup 2007 next March, saying that life in Kingston would continue long after the event had passed.

At the same time, he also urged all business operators in the city to buy into the programme, and to contribute in whatever ways they could towards beautifying Kingston.

Meanwhile, Local Government and Environment Minister Dean Peart said the project should be done in a systematic manner in order to get and maintain the interest of the private sector.

“I think the time has come for us to put a proper plan together. How can we do this thing? How can we make this thing work? I believe that the private sector will come on board. if we show we can make this thing work,” the minister said.

Peart, in the meantime, said he hoped the beautification project could bring back life to the city with the revival of activities such as Sunday evening visits to the Kingston waterfront. This, he said, would help to restore some of Kingston’s lost popularity.

Deputy police commissioner Jevene Bent, who endorsed the project, appealed to residents and business operators in the city to help with the clean-up effort.

“We want to see a clean city. When we have a clean city we won’t have too many criminals around because they will stick out like a sore thumb,” DCP Bent said.

She promised that members of the police would be “getting their hands dirty” during the beautification project.