JAMAICA |PNP Minority Caucus flays KSAMC handling of Charlemont Drive matter

KINGSTON, Jamaica. January 17, 2024: The PNP’s Minority Caucus of the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is concerned over the administration's handling of the irregularities in the approval process of the development at 11 Charlemont Drive, Kingston 6 which resulted in alleged deviation from that which was approved.

Chairman of the Minority Caucus and PNP Councillor for the Vineyard Town Division Andrew Swaby has expressed disappointment with the statement issued by Mayor Delroy Williams which suggested that the KSAMC has taken a nonchalant approach towards the enforcement of building and planning laws within the municipality. 

Emphasising the need for timely and conscientious solutions, and expressing deep concern about the pace and productivity of the investigation, Councillor Swaby said the Mayor’s statement confirming that an internal investigation has been taking place into the Integrity Commission’s report, shows that little to nothing has been done since September 2023  to rectify the matter”.

The PNP Minority Caucus is well aware of the seriousness of this and other related matters, and has on several occasions sought to engage the KSAMC’s administration in meaningful discussions on how to improve the current system. 

“As the Local Authority, we have an obligation to ensure that we put systems in place for the proper management of the affairs and the protection of the health and safety of persons within the municipality”, said Swaby.

In January 2022, the Minority Caucus resigned from the Building and Planning Committee as a result of the administration’s failure to provide the Minority with the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on the state of affairs which lead to a number of adverse rulings by the Supreme Court against the KSAMC. 

Councillor Swaby noted that “In an effort to rectify some of the weaknesses highlighted by the court, on two separate occasions in January 2022 and December 2023 we sought to have the matter placed on the fore, by way of Resolutions, however, on both occasions, we were ‘shut down’. 

The Opposition strongly believes that considering the seriousness of the matter, the KSAMC ought to have considered and even implemented some of the recommendations of the Integrity Commission. “We are calling on the Mayor to inform the country on the  steps that have been taken, or the systems that have been implemented to remedy the deficiencies identified,” Swaby declared.

The Minority Caucus says it is once again extending the ‘olive branch' to the administration, for meaningful discussions between both sides on the way forward. 

In addition, the Minority Caucus says it will continue to advocate for and ensure that the laws by which we are governed and discharge our responsibilities to the people whom we are elected to serve, are upheld and enforced.

-30-