March 24, 2009 - DIGICEL AND THE KSAC PARTNER TO OUTFIT HALF WAY TREE WITH VENDING STALLS

Kingston, Jamaica, March 24, 2009: Digicel, Jamaica’s fastest growing mobile operator, and the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) have embarked on a joint initiative to beautify Mandela Park. This includes outfitting Half Way Tree and its environs with 53 vending stalls, in order to foster an organized and systematic approach to vending in the area.  According to the KSAC, the Half Way Tree exercise is expected to be a catalyst for other Urban Centres such as Cross Roads, Papine, Red Hills and Manor Park.

Kingston’s Mayor, Senator Desmond McKenzie comments, “Vending activities in Half Way Tree and its environs have been a public outcry for years because of the unsightly state of contraptions and the accumulation of garbage. We approached Digicel to partner with the KSAC to correct this issue and without hesitation, they accepted. Needless to say, this will be a refreshing improvement in Half Way Tree and we thank Digicel for their corporate conscience.”

Marking the first phase on this initiative, Kingston’s Mayor, Senator Desmond A. McKenzie, CD, JP, suspended all vending activities in Half Way Tree and its environs on October 1, 2008 before embarking on a general clean up exercise of the area. Digicel is now in the process of designing 53 vending stalls, of which the first 28 will be completed for a handover ceremony on Wednesday, March 25 in Half Way Tree.

“We recognize this partnership as one that is equally dear to the vendors in Half Way Tree, the KSAC, to us as a corporate citizen and the public in general”, comments CEO of Digicel Jamaica, Mark Linehan. “Digicel is always looking for ways to improve the lives of our citizens and by extension our communities and we’re glad to be able to join forces with the KSAC to beautify our immediate and surrounding communities while providing a structured and organized environment in which the vendors and the public can continue to do business,” continued Linehan.

“Once the stalls have been constructed and installed, the KSAC will be responsible for the overall management including technical and logistics support and enforcement measures to ensure continuity and sustainability,” added Mayor McKenzie.

The initiative will also include:

·         A licensing system with identification card

·         Provision of 53 designated vending spaces strategically placed in one location in the Half Way Tree area

·         Vendors will be required to wear and display identification cards, vests/aprons with spot numbers affixed

·         Vending carts with corresponding spot numbers affixed, and

·         Agreement stating terms and conditions of vending signed by all vendors.