KINGSTON, Jamaica – Kingston, the capital of Jamaica, has become the centre of trade and commerce in the island, with many companies and organisations setting up shop in the corporate area.

According to a release, Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Senator Delroy expressed that over the years, Kingston and especially the downtown area, has become extremely commercially attractive with about 2,000 to 4,000 vendors selling wares ranging from food to clothing and household items.

“What you have now is that the population has grown and Kingston, as a centre of commerce has grown, so, there is far more business activity in this urban space than you would have had in the 1900s,” he said indicating that at present, “there are far more pedestrians, street vendors and cars using and competing for the space, which shows no sign of slowing.”

Against that background, the mayor has sought to assure Jamaicans that plans are being put in place to accommodate the growth – including encouraging investment from the private sector – while preserving the historical and cultural value of Kingston.

“Over the short-term, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is looking at restructuring the market district and the “softening” of parts of downtown. These include the reorganisation of Chapel Lane to allow for ease of traffic and vending and to facilitate better interaction among buyers, sellers, motorists and emergency vehicles that traverse the market district,” the release said.

“Other plans include reopening Jubilee Market to remove some 60 vendors from the streets and reorganising the Rae Rae market to facilitate both vendors and some taxi operators,” it also added.

Mayor Williams added that the municipality will continue to build out of the concept of the Kulture Key space, blending recreation and business activity, and creating a robust nightlife.

“When we put in the bricks [that line the streets of the Kulture Key] and we started to do the murals, part of it was to soften the area, so that people could come into the space and feel relaxed,” he said.

The Government is encouraging increased investment downtown and has set an example by establishing new offices for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Port Royal Street and has broken ground for the construction of the new parliamentary building at National Heroes Circle.