Dear Editor,
It’s so unfortunate that each time there is a scandal involving someone who wields power in Jamaica, a government official usually comes out promising to tighten existing protocols so that there is no re-occurrence.
This was the case recently, following the Director of Public Prosecution Paula Llewellyn’s ruling regarding the National Water Commission (NWC) president Mark Barnett and his wife who allegedly built an apartment complex in breach of permits. According to a report by the Integrity Commission, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) issued building, planning and environmental permits to Barnett and his wife for the construction of two three-storey blocks consisting of 12 one-bedroom units. However, it was found that the development consisted of six two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units, which was a breach of the permits issued.
Now that everything is out in the open, and KSAMC is being criticised for not fulfilling its mandate, Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams has announced a raft of changes to the approval processes for developments. One such change is that there will now be mandatory inspections every three months for every development and designated stages of completion inspections. I doubt very much that these changes will affect the bigwigs. It is not like the Barnetts’ apartment was not inspected multiple times, but what difference did that make? What is likely to happen, is that it will become even more difficult for the common man to add on a bedroom to his existing dwelling to accommodate the expansion of his family, because he is going to be harassed every three months by a building inspector who sometimes make unnecessary and costly demands.
I remember a few years ago, when adding on to my house, I experienced the frustration so many others in this country face in getting a plan approved. First, it took months for my drawings to be approved. I was heavily pregnant at the time and made multiple trips to the municipal office. A few weeks after giving birth, I went there again and pleaded with the officials as the promised time for approval had long passed. When it was time to do the decking of the rooms and the building inspector came, he said he was going to put a stop order on the property because I was using white gravel instead of black gravel. Prior to coming, he had asked a member of my household which party he voted for. I supposed he didn’t give him the response he wanted to hear.
Needless to say, we had to source additional funds to purchase black gravel to deck the property. He also instructed us to purchase more steel as he didn’t approve the steel work for the decking. When I looked at the flimsy wire that made up the structure I purchased from the developer of the scheme where I lived, I was reminded why it is often said that there are two Jamaica.
I am,
Nicola