Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

( L - R ) Notice, Robotham

Former Mayor of Spanish Town Dr Raymoth Notice has criticised the political directorate for not capitalising on the urban centre's short-term peace to press through meaningful social and economic reform.

Notice argued that the deplorable living conditions of many residents in the Old Capital had fuelled hopelessness, and warned that the town's history of violence could come back to haunt it.

"While we were calm and had a good period of peace, the authorities did not use their power to promote the various types of intervention that were necessary," Notice told The Gleaner in an interview Monday. "While the Church has played a critical part, the will from the Government, in particular, the previous Government, was not there," he said.

President of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce, Dennis Robotham, agrees with Notice's assessment and has proposed that the Government engage communities in various commercial projects.

"Take the car park, for instance, and I am not talking about working with the thugs, but we can begin legitimising these operations and begin giving these communities contracts to operate their own sanitation, for example," he said.

Adhere to law

Robotham, however, stressed that these businesses would have to adhere to the law.

Much of Spanish Town proper, which stood as Jamaica's capital for more than 300 years, is blighted by crumbling architecture and gang crime. The deaths of two rival dons - Andrew 'Bun Man' Hope and Donovan 'Bulbie' Bennett - more than two years ago provided a lull in the bloodletting, but there are fresh concerns about an upsurge in violence.

In the wake of fiery demonstrations against the arrest of alleged gangster Tesha Miller on the weekend, Superintendent Terrence Bent, head of the St Catherine North police, told The Gleaner the lawmen would repel violent protests.

"The police will be resolute in their actions. We have given them enough warnings and we will not allow Spanish Town to experience any further disruptions," Bent said.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com

Higglers sell wares in a no-vending zone on Burke Road in Spanish Town last month. Lack of political will has been blamed for the wave of public disorder affecting the town. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer