THERE was a strong police presence Monday to prevent any potential problems as residents of Richmond Park in St Andrew and nearby communities staged a peaceful protest, decrying the influx of commercial entities taking over their neighbourhood and making them uncomfortable.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Paul Clarke of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch told the Jamaica Observer on Monday morning that the presence of the police was just to ensure a peaceful demonstration.

“We understand their situation because we have been removing several derelict vehicles that cause congestion in the community, and we will continue to remove these vehicles. We are working alongside the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC),” said Clarke.

While it was not the first time residents have staged a protest over the issue, they told the
Observer that there has been gross inaction from the State, which has caused the situation to get worse over many years. They said the number of businesses setting up at a fast pace is definitely a cause for concern, with most of these operators residing in affluent communities and gated complexes.

“We see it as an invasion of Richmond Park, which is a peaceful residential community. It makes it difficult for residents to co-exist in the community. There is limited to virtually no place for us to walk. These businesses contribute to increased concretisation of the community. As they come in, they cut down trees and grass and create concrete pavements which results in increased water run-off in the streets and that causes flooding. There is a general depreciation of the residential life in community. That is why we are protesting so we can finally get the matter addressed. The increased commercial activity results in a fluctuation in the supply of electricity because of an overload,” said Preston Tabois, president of the Richmond Park Community Development Committee.

“The community was not originally zoned for that. It is a residential community. We are very concerned it might even increase crime as businesses attract strangers. As soon as a property is put up for sale, the business people buy the property, invade the community and set up commercial entities,” Tabois said.

Elaine Dixon, another resident, said that in front of her house there are at least three businesses in operation. Such a set-up is far from desirable, she said.

“We just want the place to come back together. There are too many commercial buildings. Right in front of my house, there is a gym, a bar and another business. At nights, and even in the day, thieves harasses us. They grab bags and take phones. We are scared, and it is getting worse and worse. We need the mayor to come and do something. Sometimes they tell us it is an apartment and when it finishes, it is no apartment. The mayor needs to come and look at it,” said Dixon.

Though she is not a resident of Richmond Park, Hagley Park Road resident Janet Afflick said people from her community are also suffering from a similar situation. According to her, she felt that proprietors were setting up businesses in their homes.

“We are basically ignored on a constant basis. The commercial places just spring up overnight. There is a cesspool operator in our community and we can’t get rid of it. They park the trucks on the road, you can’t even pass to go about your business. I have lived there from 1972. It is ridiculous that they are buying up the houses [and turning them into businesses]. Bring back family life and neighbourhoods. We must be able to live without fumes from cars and noise from parties affecting us,” Afflick said.

The protesters, who received wide support from motorists, held up placards with messages denouncing what was happening in their community.

One woman held up a sign which read, “Help, help, who will come to rescue?”

On another placard, six questions were raised. “Where is NPA? Where is the mayor? Where is the Member of Parliament? Where is the councillor? Where is the town clerk? Where is the building engineer?”

There was even poetry, of a sort, on one of the placards.

“The park get cork, no place to walk because of business shark, so we have to talk.”