The revelation that the Government spends over $1.2 billion a year in rent - a figure which we believe is understated - reinforces this newspaper's long-held belief and oft-repeated argument for the return to downtown Kingston of government ministries and agencies.

It is a campaign that, happily, has been embraced by Prime Minister Golding, who has articulated the argument that we have been making: If the government hopes to inspire the rejuvenation of the old section of the capital, it has to lead by example.

It is this failure, we believe, that has been the major deterrent to the hoped-for reversal of the harsh grittiness of downtown, about which the past administration talked so much. It did little about the problem ... and even joined the bolt for uptown.

For instance, the Patterson administration instituted a 25 per cent tax write-back on income from properties refurbished downtown in an effort to encourage renewal. But what did it do after that? It allowed the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) to out-bid two private sector companies, who were willing to put cash in the barrel, for a building in New Kingston that used to house the consular offices of the US embassy. Ironically, that building was owned by another government agency. So, in effect, what we had was a swap of cash.

But that was not the only case of idiocy. Not so long ago, for example, the Export-Import Bank joined the dash uptown from Duke Street, acquiring property on Oxford Road, on the other side of the street from the PIOJ's soon-to-be-occupied headquarters.

That National Security and Justice ministries used to be in the UDC building on the Kingston waterfront, but they left, preferring rental cost of Michael Lee Chin's NCB Towers, which, ironically, were bought, some would claim, at distress rates from the Finsac portfolio. And the list goes on. At the same time, the UDC has over 87,000 square feet of unoccupied space downtown ready for renting - with minor refurbishing. The Central Sorting Office probably has another 50,000 square feet that could be easily let.

It is, therefore, relatively easy for Mr Golding to begin to enforce reverse migration of ministries and agencies to downtown Kingston with two effects: saving money and providing an example to the private sector.

But while we like Mr Golding's idea of relocating the Foreign Ministry to downtown, hoping to use the move as a catalyst for foreign missions to do likewise, we would suggest a slight adjustment to the strategy.

Mr Golding has said the Government has bought the land of the former Myrtle Bank Hotel for the ministry. The Government would build from scratch. We believe, however, that there are many charming buildings downtown Kingston, which can be acquired and refurbished for the purpose. Contiguous properties can be joined, if size is an issue.

We propose perhaps, a five-year moratorium on government construction, except for critical infrastructure, and the use of the money in a major clean-up and refurbishment of the physical environment. This will, in part, provide inexpensive labour. It would also demand tough enforcement and legislative backing to ensure that private property owners be onboard.

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