KSAC Partners With Cable and Wireless to Refurbish Vending Facilities

Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) has partnered with Cable and Wireless Jamaica Limited to refurbish the city’s vending facilities, including the Pearnel Charles Arcade downtown at a cost of $10 million.
Speaking at the press briefing this morning (March 16) at the arcade to announce the partnership, Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, said that KSAC was very appreciative that “Cable and Wireless had responded in a positive way to the appeal of the council”.
“This is a legacy that will be seen right across the corporate area and not just in the downtown area,” he pointed out.
Work on the arcade will be done in two phases with phase one scheduled to begin at the end of March. The scope of works, the Mayor informed, “will involve the complete roofing of the arcade, and it is anticipated that the work will last for nine to 10 weeks. At the completion of phase one, we will start phase two which will involve the infrastructure dealing with the public conveniences and the electrical works”.
“Further down the road, we will look at phase three of the repairs and that phase will take us dealing with the stalls and other aspects of it,” he said.
The partnership with Cable and Wireless will also extend to the repainting of the Constant Spring market and the fish market at Rose Lane.
As it regards the Constant Spring market, Mayor McKenzie said, “we will also get the assistance of EdgeChem Jamaica Limited .we will get half of the paint free and they will provide the other half at a reduced cost,” while the KSAC will be spending $3.5 million to rehabilitate the road at Rose Lane.
President and Chief Executive Officer of Cable and Wireless Jamaica, Rodney Davis, said the company was happy to play its part in beautifying the city. “Making (Kingston) a better place to work and to live is something that you will see Cable and Wireless try continuously to be a part of and hopefully with other municipalities,” said Mr. Davis.
Vice President of the United Vendors Association of Jamaica, Brenda Christie noted that the vendors were “overwhelmed and glad” at the gesture.
“This is a project, which we know .will come true so I am looking forward to see the arcade top put on and then we will go from there. I know it is a hard road to travel and we have a mighty long way to go, but I know we will reap success,” said Miss Christie.