By PAUL G TURNQUEST

Chief Reporter

pturnquest@tribunemedia.net

TWO wooden structures were demolished on Rolle Avenue yesterday, signaling the physical start of Urban Renewal 2.0 in Prime Minister Perry Christie's Centreville constituency.

Witnessing the demolition for himself, along with his deputy PM Philip "Brave" Davis, and five of his cabinet ministers, Mr Christie thanked the Urban Renewal team being headed by Superintendent Stephen Dean for making the occasion a very symbolic occasion for him.

"I represented this area when I started in 1977. In 1977 over 680 votes came from this area. Now it's just probably over 300 and that is because the area continues to deteriorate. People move out, houses become dilapidated and even though the government puts infrastructure here - roads, a school next door - you find that the whole process is people moving away from infrastructure and us having to build again," Mr Christie said.

Highlighting a childhood friend and neighbour, Elgin Rahming, who lives near the home that was being destroyed, Mr Christie said that someone like Mr Rahming becomes the eyes and ears for the police in the community.

"Urban Renewal to me means that we are going to take these houses here, we are going to demolish them. The experience of the outside toilets that was here is going to be no more.

"A new home will come here and new people will come into this home and those children will be able to go to the school next door and be able to become a part of a live neighbourhood.

"And the whole renewing of the neighbourhood is important. And so people like Mr Rahming who have made the sacrifice and the commitment will be here and are going to continue to do that very, very effectively. And what happens then is this, he (Mr Rahming) is a leader in this community. He becomes a part of the Urban Renewal programme. He becomes the eyes and ears for law and order so the police officers who are leading this programme will meet with him and talk with him and he will become a part of whatever is happening here so they can have their reach into Rolle Avenue through the citizens of Rolle Avenue."

Mr Christie said that the FNM constantly criticized his Urban Renewal design, claiming that police officers were not supposed to be "social workers" delivering food and services to people.

Looking to Superintendent Dean, Mr Christie said that senior officers of his rank now can effectively move into these communities and stop persons from being able to hide firearms in abandoned buildings and explain to the community why it should be empowering and protecting itself.