Urbanisation of Kingston
By Marjorie Henry, Contributor

A Jamaica Constabulary Force schools resource officer presents a sketch at a training course carried out by PALS last year. - Contributed

As we continue to focus on the urbanisation of Kingston today, we turn our attention to the benefits associated with urbanisation. Did you give any thought to these as I suggested in the last lesson? I trust you did. Please be reminded that, according to the syllabus, the benefits of urbanisation are in relation to the Capital City you chose to study. Since Kingston is the city I chose, I will therefore share with you on some of the benefits stemming from the urbanisation of Kingston.

The development of areas for the building of houses is one such benefit. Portmore provides a very good example for this. In this area, wetlands have been reclaimed, and these, along with lands formerly used for the cultivation of sugar cane, have been used for the development of Portmore. This community is quite developed having its own schools, health centres, police stations, shopping centres, financial institutions, etc.

Housing developments

Housing estates have been developed. Apartment buildings have been constructed, sometimes on large properties previously owned and occupied by one person or family. New housing developments help to alleviate the problem of overcrowding.

Another benefit of urbanisation is the improvement of the road network. This has been realised in several ways, for example, "The recently constructed Highway 2000 running from Ferry in St. Catherine to Sandy Bay in Clarendon. Other phases of the highway are under construction along the north coast of the island.

• The construction of new and wider roads.
  
  
• The widening of roads, for example, the Marcus Garvey Drive and Spanish Town Road.
  
  
• Converting existing two-way roads into one-way.
  
  
• The installation of traffic lights in areas where they did not previously exist.

The development of factories provides job opportunities. There are many factories in Industrial Estate, which incorporates the Spanish Town Road and Marcus Garvey Drive. Importantly, there are many export industries located near the port in the Kingston Free Zone and the Garmex Free Zone.

The development of New Kingston provided an extensive commercial centre. It is closer to residential areas and has newer and more spacious buildings. The area has high-rise buildings, which have been erected for commercial firms, banks and insurance companies, shopping centres, supermarkets, cinemas, fast-food outlets and high-rise hotels. These together provide better services for the population. Commercial activities in Kingston are further enhanced by the development of a diversity of shopping plazas and hypermarkets, for example, Mega Mart and Price Smart. These offer wider choices and variety of goods for the people.

The list of benefits realised from the urbanisation of Kingston is certainly not exhausted. I encourage you to find out more for yourself.

Permit me to make a brief reference to Objective 7 in the geography syllabus, under our current area of study, that is, population and settlement. It states,

"describe ways in which urbanisation can be controlled in the Caribbean."

In the interest of time and space, I am unable to expand on these factors. However, I will tabulate them and, at the same time, encourage you to do further reading on the topic. Should you be given a question on this topic in the examination, you must have adequate information so that you can offer a sensible discussion on any of the points you may choose to mention.

1. Decentralisation of industrial activities: The setting-up of proper infrastructure for industrial sites tends to alleviate the problem. In Jamaica, for example, some industrial estates, such as at Yallahs, Old Harbour, Morant Bay and Spanish Town, are located away from Kingston.

2. Development of new settlements or towns: The development of new settlements or satellite towns away from the city in the outer suburbs reduces the increased rate of urban problems in the city. It leads to drift away from the city and a concentration of urban activities in such suburban areas.

3. Urban restrictions: The restriction of certain industrial and commercial activities within the city to areas outside; it helps to alleviate some of the traffic congestion in the city and unemployment problems.

4. Rural development: The development of rural areas, that is, providing a higher standard of agricultural activities and an increase in social services such as electricity, adequate water supply, good transportation and proper recreational facilities, can help to reduce rural to urban migration. It also leads to a far more equitable distribution of employment in the various sectors.

Marjorie Henry is a vice-principal at Glenmuir High School and is head of the Geography Department. She teaches the subject at the CSEC Level.