EU-Jamaica 5K to showcase hidden gems of downtown Kingston
Jamaicans with a vested interest in the redevelopment of downtown Kingston and a reduction in crime plaguing the area will get to exercise their support by participating in the European Union-Jamaica 5K run this Sunday.
Alfred Francis, race director of Running Events Jamaica — a key partner that will be administrating the walk/run — told the Jamaica Observer’s Monday Exchange forum, at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue location, that the organisers are targeting 2,000 participants.
Francis said the aim is to raise more than $2 million and the proceeds will be donated to Kingston High School to fund a literacy programme at the institution because of an acceptance that there is a correlation between illiteracy and violence.
“This run will showcase some of the hidden gems of downtown. The EU has elected to give a fabulous medal and a wonderful shirt which speaks to the focus, which is our fight against crime and violence. The people of downtown feel good when we come to their communities and even though we know there are challenges in the communities, majority of the people who are here are good people. We cannot have that uptown and downtown syndrome where there is a social divide. A social divide creates a mental despondency in our people and they feel as if they are not good enough,” Francis said.
“For people from outside to come out and be amongst them, it does a lot. One of the major things in our fight against crime and violence is social intercourse. It also requires mentorship and guidance. At the core of what we do is promoting and building a healthy lifestyle through physical activities. One of the best things we can do for ourselves and our families is to keep healthy. Sixty-six per cent of hospital beds are occupied by people who have lifestyle challenges.”
The run will start on Port Royal Street at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will head westerly on Port Royal Street, then down on Duke Street to the shoreline. Participants will then proceed on Ocean Boulevard, passing the craft market before making their way onto Harbour Street. From there, they will head easterly on Harbour Street before turning left on King Street, then right onto Water Lane where there is a prominent art walk.
“We will start at 6:00 am and registration is ongoing. The walkers will have a better time than the runners in enjoying the artwork that lines both sides of Water Lane. We will then come out on Church Street, turn right on Church Street and go back to Harbour Street. We will then proceed right out to Rae Town and then we will come back to the coast where there is a huge boardwalk where kids can cycle and people can go fishing, and so on. They have been adding artwork all around that area. We will end outside of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Further, Marianne Van Steen, the European Union Ambassador (EU) to Jamaica, said the EU embarked on this mission because it is dedicated to helping Jamaica reach its own development goals. She underscored the importance of citizen safety and security in achieving development.
“If you want to help the country in its developmental goal, I think you all have to look at the issues in front of us at different levels. I think you need a top down and a bottom up approach. We have become more interested in supporting the country in citizen security. It is hard to get people on the street to realise how important it is to fight against crime and violence. It is something I think is extremely important. It is also about awareness-raising as well, showing that downtown Kingston is a beautiful gem with so much potential but we have an issue with crime.
“If we get as many people as we can, exactly in that part of town, then we hope we can address something that is more difficult to address. It will leave something in the minds of the people to show that we are against crime and violence. It sounds philosophical, but I think it is important to involve the people and that is really why we organised this. We want to have many people on board and not just the ones who come from uptown. That is the main reason we are doing it. We want to involve the people,” she said.