Local authorities failing in their duties
Published:Tuesday | May 11, 2010 | 12:00 AM
The Editor, Sir:
The issues outlined in the article by your columnist Dr Garth Rattray in Monday's Gleaner concerning the inspection of buildings by the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), and the appalling situation of the use of buildings contravening planning requirements, are by no means peculiar to the KSAC.
I have also observed the same islandwide as part of my research on Jamaica's sustainability plan. Legislation is currently being considered by the Government, which has had input from various stakeholders. This legislation is desperately needed to help prevent a wide-scale tragedy. The unfortunate thing concerning any legislation is the failure to monitor and enforce its provisions. I have already pointed to the weaknesses of the various local government authorities in enforcing and doing relevant inspections.
adequate inspection
The move by the Portland parish council to increase building fees should be used to provide adequate inspections of buildings. Recent calls by members of the various councils to provide the certificate of completion, which certifies that the relevant inspections were done, to be presented before connection of utilities, would immediately remove the problem of unpermitted construction of buildings.
Unfortunately, this would not affect additions to existing structures. There would need to be co-operation among insurance companies, local authorities and planning departments to enforce zoning laws.
While these regulations might seem, to the uninformed, to be costly, they would help to remove the issues of unethical contractors and tradesmen. This would offer peace of mind to uninformed consumers, most of whom do not employ the services of qualified quantity surveyors or 'clerks of works'.
The resources of the planning department of the various local governments should also be increased to allow for greater effectiveness and, as such, inspectors should be granted additional powers in the granting of stop orders.
I am, etc.,
MARIO WOODE
Hopewell, Hanover