Eastern Kingston Promenade Project Transforms Bellevue Hospital Walls into a Cultural Landscape

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (center) joined by (from left) Councillor of the Springfield Division, Lorraine Dobson, Member of Parliament for the Eastern Kingston and Port Royal constituency, Mr. Phillip Paulwell, Chief Executive Officer of the Bellevue Hospital, Ms. Camille Buchanan and Executive Director of TPDCo. Mr. Wade Mars cuts the ribbon to officially open the Eastern Kingston Promenade, on Monday, January 15, 2024.

 

Kingston, Jamaica; Monday, January 15, 2024 — The successful completion of the Eastern Kingston Promenade Project was celebrated with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, January 15, 2024, at the Bellevue Hospital, Kingston. The ceremony, attended by esteemed dignitaries and community members, featured remarks from the Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, and Mr. Phillip Paulwell, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Eastern Kingston and Port Royal Constituency.

The Eastern Kingston Promenade, a collaborative effort between the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo.), the Bellevue Hospital and Mr. Paulwell represents a commitment to enhancing the tourism product and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Destination Area of Kingston. The ambitious initiative revitalized the walls of the Bellevue Hospital and its corridor along Windward Road, breathing new life into the community.

The project conceptualized by Mr. Paulwell, was supported by a budget of $7,000,000.00 through TPDCo’s “Spruce Up Pon di Corner” programme. The transformative project which seamlessly blends culture, history, and leisure, is poised to become a key attraction for both locals and international visitors. The Eastern Kingston Promenade project unfolded across two distinct phases, commencing in November 2022, and concluding in January 2024.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett lauded the beautification project, foreseeing its positive impact on the community. He remarked, “This initiative will make citizens have a better

appreciation of their place.” Minister Bartlett expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, stating, “to create 138 panels of beauty and to coincide with the 138 years of Bellevue Hospital’s existence is a significant coincidence… this has created a thing of joy which will be a pleasure for everyone.”

Mr. Phillip Paulwell in his remarks expressed the significance of the project, stating, “the setting is so important to the mindset of how people relate with each other.” Mr. Paulwell commended the successful execution of the ‘Spruce Up Pon di Corner’ programme, emphasizing the alignment of his initiative with TPDCo’s vision under the Ministry of Tourism.

The Eastern Kingston Promenade signifies not only a substantial investment in cultural preservation but also serves as a driving force behind the constituency’s social and economic development.

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