KINGSTON, Jamaica — What was once a dense, overgrown stretch outside Tarrant Primary School is now a clear, walkable path — and for many parents and teachers, it feels like taking back control.
The swift land-clearing operation, executed by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), has drastically changed the terrain around the school — both physically and emotionally.
“Before this, we were always on edge. People were using the bushes to ambush students and parents,” said one teacher, requesting anonymity. “It wasn’t just an eyesore. It was a daily threat.”
While security concerns have loomed for years, this recent action wasn’t a routine beautification effort — it was a defensive one. The de-bushing was carried out following repeated reports of criminal activity exploiting the area’s concealment. Parents had reportedly planned to take matters into their own hands before the KSAMC’s unexpected intervention.
Alrick Francis, a city inspector with KSAMC, confirmed that this is part of a wider mandate to address neglected and non-compliant lots across the Corporate Area. “This isn’t just about appearance. When emergency services can’t access a road, or when crime uses overgrowth as cover — that’s when we step in,” he said during another cleanup on Thompson Boulevard, where a recent fire left a resident homeless.
KSAMC has been tightening enforcement on absentee landowners, some of whom have ignored multiple violation notices. “When they refuse to act, we act,” Francis stated firmly.
The transformation has been felt immediately at Tarrant. School leaders report an increased sense of calm at dismissal, with previously obscured areas now in plain view.
“Visibility is safety,” one parent said while picking up her child. “It feels like we’ve taken the space back.”
The broader campaign, dubbed the Clean-Up Kingston Initiative, has already tackled areas like Cooreville Gardens and Bob Marley Boulevard — each effort adding momentum to what city officials say is a long-overdue shift in urban maintenance.
“Cutting bush doesn’t fix everything,” the teacher added, “but it tells us someone’s paying attention.”
