Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, the Hon. Chester Cooper revealed to reporters this week that the government is contemplating legislation to govern the management of downtown and that legislation is being worked on by the Attorney General’s Office. “We have a draft of that legislation out for consultation at the moment and we hope to be able to present that to the public soon.”

Cooper went on to explain issues presently experienced downtown. “There are also issues of vagrancy. We believe we will be able to address some of this with the help of the police, with the help of social services and under the auspices of the new mental health bill that we passed recently we’ll be able to take some action. It is important that Bay Street, our main downtown city centre, is cleaned up for the benefit of residents so we can be proud and show that pride but also for the tourism experience.”