MAYOR of Kingston Andrew Swaby used a treat for the homeless on New Year’s Day to appeal to them to avoid sleeping and congregating in Justice Square, downtown Kingston, which is home to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

For years the square has been a refuge for dozens of homeless people, some of whom are mentally challenged and roam at will in different stages of undress on King Street.

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has struggled over time to relocate the homeless from the area, with members of the legal fraternity frequently expressing concern about their presence.

Last September, Senior Appeal Court judge Justice Paulette Williams, presiding over the official opening ceremony for the Michaelmas Term, said a recent fire at the rear of the court building — allegedly caused by the actions of a homeless individual — was sufficient notice.

The early morning fire on Peter’s Lane, which is frequented by homeless people at nights, caused damage to the court’s electrical infrastructure, resulting in a week-long closure.

“We continue to struggle with the challenges presented by the homeless and mentally challenged within our court environs. I don’t know how many of you are aware that there was a fire that affected the rear of the building sometime last term, and allegations are that the fire was set by a homeless individual,” Justice Williams said.

“Just last week another incident involving another mentally challenged individual took place — and it took on serious proportions because this person was attempting to set fires. She was armed with a knife, and when she was accosted by the security guards she attacked them, and the security guard had to take defensive action, and there was discharge of a firearm in the circumstances so we had to have the police brought in,” Justice Williams added.

She urged the authorities “to address this nuisance”, as she expressed hope that the situation will not lead to a situation in which “we will end up saying, ‘if only’, and, ‘if wi did’. So, we continue to ask you to be cautious in your dealings with these people as they gather around us and to be aware of them,” added Justice Williams.

During Thursday’s treat, organised by the Poor Relief Department at the KSAMC inside St William Grant Park, Mayor Swaby announced that efforts to remove the homeless from Justice Square will be intensified.

“This year we certainly will be working closer with you; we want to reach the stage where we can get you off the road. We can’t get everybody off all at once but we have to reach that stage where we are rehabilitating you. Rehabilitating can take different forms; it can connect you back with your families and it can also put you in a home. It also means we can look at possibilities to make you more independent so you don’t have to depend on the State,” said Swaby.

“Those are some of the activities that we are working to do. We have a homeless committee and we want to see a Kingston and St Andrew with less people living on the roads. We want to see a Kingston and St Andrew that is clean — and you have a role to play in that,” Swaby added as he implored the homeless people in downtown Kingston to go to approved food distribution points to collect food from people who donate.

“We gladly want people to help to feed you but we want them to feed you at 65 Hanover Street. I don’t want them to feed you on the roads because when you are finished, you drop the boxes right there and dirty up the city,” he said.

Swaby argued that the homeless will also have a role to play in keeping the city clean.

“I am from the country, and one thing I know is, no matter how poor you are, your house must be clean. I am asking you all just to work with me, work with the KSAMC so we can have a cleaner city for all of us to enjoy.

“We are not here to try and run you off the road — what we are here to do is to try to see how best we can have you organised. There are some areas that I don’t want to see you. Justice Square in front of the Supreme Court, that is a place I want to take you away from and put you up by 65 Hanover Street or at Church Street,” Swaby said.

For years, Justice Square in downtown Kingston — which is home to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions — has been a refuge for dozens of homeless people.

In this file photo homeless people form a line to accept food from a donor. Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby on Thursday implored the homeless people in downtown Kingston to go to approved food distribution points to collect food from people who donate.