Work has started on a major project that has as its long-term goal, the enhancement
and redevelopment of downtown St. John’s.
Starting with work on a section of Tanner Street, the project seeks to improve the
overall look and feel of the city in time for the celebrations of VC Bird Day on
December 9.
Director of City Planning and Urban Renewal, Saiid Greene said the work on the
repair and cleanup of Tanner Street, is the first phase of the project which will run
well into the new year and beyond.
“Our aim is to see the downtown area revitalized and return to that vibrancy that
has characterized the capital for decades. In recent times, our capital city has lost
its allure, its attractiveness, and its cleanliness. We have all indiscriminately
littered the city streets and gutters and now it has become a national eye-sore. We
have to clean it up ourselves; this is our legacy to the upcoming generations,”
Greene stated.
On Wednesday morning, teams from several agencies including the Ministry of
Works will converge where Tanner Street meets Cross Street to begin the work in
earnest.
Greene is also calling on private property owners in St. John’s to do their part by
upgrading or otherwise beautifying their properties.
“This has to be a national effort; government and private property owners coming
together to uplift our city. This is ours; no one is going to come to help us. Let’s
join hands and do it for ourselves and our children. When the visitors arrive, and
they too enjoy it, then that’s a bonus; we all win,” he declared.
The Director of City Planning and Urban Renewal also wants to see the service
clubs fully participate in what is a national endeavour. “Our service clubs have
been integral in our social developments. They have contributed much to national
building. Here is an opportunity for the Lion’s Club, the Rotary Club, the JCI of
Antigua and Barbuda, the Kiwanis Club, and others to join us in making St. John’s
the capital we want it to be, the capital for which will be happy to boast about.
Each of these clubs may adopt a street and see to its clean up and beautification as
their contribution to the overall project,” Greene suggested.
