JCC blames gov’t for vending problems at Kingston Parish Church
WESTERN BUREAU — President of the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC), Rev Howard Gregory has blamed government for the continued use of the Kingston Parish Church as a refuge for ganja smokers and a changing/rest room facility for vendors.
The Anglican priest said it was government’s responsibility to remedy the “untenable and disgraceful” situation and that any suggestion to have the church do so should be resisted.
“The situation, which has developed represents a dereliction of duty by public authorities. Attempts to suggest that the members of the Kingston Parish Church should tackle the problem should be rejected,” said Rev Gregory at Wednesday’s annual general meeting of the JCC.
The JCC president criticised suggestions that it was in an effort to gain a competitive edge and ensure their financial survival that vendors had resorted to selling on the streets.
He maintained that if that suggestion was to be accepted then other institutions would be under threat from vendors if and when they should be deemed lucrative locations for business.
“The present movement threatens to undermine any of our institutions by advancing an argument for economic survival. I am left to wonder if the precincts of the chambers of the KSAC, Gordon House or Jamaica House for that matter should take on a lucrative commercial quality,” he said. “And kindly note that the idea is not that far-fetched as the number of vendors outside the gates of Kings House seem to be already increasing.
He added that while talks of vendors’ survival may offer “(political) mileage”, with elections fast approaching it was a “sure formula” for disorder and social disintegration.
The membership of the JCC also called for the government to address the problem as a matter of immediacy.
“It is government who should carry this responsibility… settle this matter. It is disgraceful what is going on there,” Pastor Noel Fraser of the West Indies Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church said.
Rev Canon Ernle Gordon, who said the Kingston Parish Church was over 300 years old and boasted six of the best paintings by the late Edna Manley, echoed the sentiment of his colleagues.
“It can’t be left to the church. The state has a responsibility,” Rev Gordon said.
Prime Minister P J Patterson told businessmen in Kingston Wednesday that he had instructed his minister of local government, Arnold Bertram, to have the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation and the security forces address the matter of vending in downtown Kingston.
Bertram is expected to report to Cabinet on the matter Monday.