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Photo by Noel Thompson- Representatives of government agencies sign a J$30-million contract for the redevelopment of the Old Hospital site in Montego Bay, St James, which will see the area transformed into a recreational park for the citizens and visitors. The signing took place at the site last Friday, February 19. From left (seated) are Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett; Joan Gordon Webley, executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA); and Lenworth Tracey, deputy general manager at the Urban Development Corporation, with responsibility for economic development and corporate relations. From left (standing) are Montego Bay's mayor, Charles Sinclair and Ian Neita, executive director of the Tourism Enhancement Fund.

MoBay to get recreational park

Noel Thompson, Hospitality Jamaica Writer

A CONTRACT valued at J$30 million was signed by representatives of three government agencies for the development of a recreational park at the Old Hospital site in Montego Bay.

The agencies included the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), the Ministry of Tourism and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC). Ground was also officially broken for the project, which has seen public sanitary conveniences being constructed over the past months.

The facility should be ready for the public by May this year. A competition is to be launched to invite secondary and tertiary students to coin a name for the park.

breathe freely

Tourism Minister, Ed Bartlett said the $30 million was not the issue, but an opportunity to give the residents a chance to breathe freely. "The value is unquantifiable. It will be for the people who use the park to extract the true value of it," Bartlett said. "Prepare yourselves because the glory days of the Hip Strip will return with a new energy that will define with a new configuration."

Lenwoth Tracey, the UDC's deputy general manager for economic development and corporate relations, explained that the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) was undertaking the financing of the project. The UDC is providing the land and will oversee the project being administered smoothly, while the NSWMA, to whom the contract has been awarded, will see to the construction and development of the site.

"The NSWMA will create an open green space, walkways, gazebos and seating at a cost of $12.5 million. This will complement the $17 million contract currently under way for the provision of administrative and sanitary conveniences, electrical supply and perimeter fencing for the park," Tracey said.

Executive director of the NSWMA, Joan Gordon-Webley, described the move as a dream come through.

TEF's executive director, Ian Neita said much emphasis would be placed on nature instead of concrete structures, as it represents the last bit of green space in Montego Bay.

"It will create a heaven where our visitors and citizens can relax and enjoy the calmness of the bay," Neita said, adding: "The Park will provide a terminus of a green promenade linking the Hip Strip with the town centre." Neita said the history would not be destroyed.