J’cans flock to Kingston waterfront for Sunday lyme

In Jamaica, the concept of enjoying the Sunday evening ice cream cone as a final hurrah before jumping into a new week has long been ingrained in our collective memories.

The Kingston waterfront, particularly in the vicinity of Ocean Boulevard in the downtown area, has become a prime spot for this Sunday lyme. On Sunday, THE STAR set out to find what made the area so ideal for rest and relaxation. Though the area is known for some of the most stunning sunsets in the Corporate Area, on this particular evening, the over-abundance of clouds caused a gray tint to settle over the landscape. But that did not discourage patrons from coming out. One man said he had a difficult time finding a place to park so he could enjoy his afternoon.

"I used to come down here and get some cool breeze but it was not so popular like now. You see lot a cars, lot a people. It seem like I was missing out on a whole lot. It was tiny little challenge at first because, as weh me say, we used to can come down here and park anywhere 'cause parking is vacant. But yuh can find a likkle spot. I assume paid parking is here," Paul Thompson said.

Thompson, who was enjoying his afternoon with his lady love, added: "Seem like down here is a place to be Sunday evening in the evenings. There's sunset, cool breeze a blow. I hope it just stay like that and the vandals dem nuh start tek ova and do dem likkle wrong thing and start scare people, because Jamaica suh nice we fi enjoy Jamaica. A place yuh can enjoy, can hang out wid your kids. See? You have kids all over the place."

But while it may be ideal for couples and families, singles are also welcome. Sanjay Miller, for example, has made it one his favourite spots.

"I'm on work at the moment even though me a enjoy the scene. Just sip sumn, puff sumn and a enjoy the scene. The scenery and the breeze you know, the whole atmosphere. I'm here enjoying it, a enjoy the view of nice ladies," he said.

As patrons have flocked to the hotspot, so, too, have the vendors. Faith Nash, a shrimp vendor, said she first started selling in the area in 2020, as, during the heights of the COVID pandemic, many places were shut down.

"Here was the only place you could come and do a little business. So, since then, I am here and I am still down here and I'm thankful that, when the kitty was totally dried out, here helped me find food for my family. I love here, mainly because of the scenery," she said.

Rohan the clown told THE STAR that he chose to bring his brand of foolery to the waterfront because that is where people are.

"My financial reservoir is at the lowest impact at this psychological moment," he said. "In fact, from 2020 it has brought me down here to fullfil my needs, my everyday needs. I have no other alternatives than to travel where money is and people is and things is. Down here is a productive place, down here is developed or in a developing mood. And, as you can see, I am not the only one who choose to have a livelihood down here, there's several others, so this is the nature. People are here, the place is a beautiful place and people are here to celebrate and to enjoy the scenery."