More than 800 elderly and indigent persons from several parts of the Corporate Area were treated by Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie on Sunday at his annual Christmas dinner at the Kingston Parish Church.

McKenzie, Deputy Mayor Lee Clarke, Town Clerk Errol Green and other members of the council and the staff of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) participated in feeding and entertaining the guests, who look forward to the annual dinner financed by the funds raised under the Mayor's Xmas Dinner Fund.

Added significance

However, this year's event took on added significance as it was made part of the KSAC's 'Christmas in the City: Downtown Comes Alive' shopping campaign which is aimed at restoring downtown's tradition as the city's main commercial shopping centre, especially at Christmas.

"We thought it was important that we did not leave out the elderly, the poor and the indigent who form a large part of the downtown community," the mayor said.

He added that the charity would continue on New Year's Day, when he and other councillors and employees of the KSAC will take to the streets of the Corporate Area to hand out food and refreshments to the homeless.

On Saturday, tribute was paid to produce vendors at Coronation Market, for the tradition of agricultural produce. Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Christopher Tufton, and his wife were special guests on that occasion.

The campaign is co-sponsored by Scotiabank, the Urban Development Corporation, The Gleaner Company and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.