Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams - file photo
The Kingston & St Andrew Municipal Corporation says the controversial multi-family residential development at 11 Charlemont Drive is now the subject of an internal investigation that will take into account the reports, inspections and approvals.
The St Andrew apartment complex is owned by suspended president of the National Water Commission, Mark Barnett, and his wife Annette.
A statement from the KSAMC Friday night said the variation in the reports of findings by inspection officers of the Corporation and the National Environment & Planning Agency - NEPA - relating to whether breaches were observed, is among the matters under investigation.
The KSAMC says, on completion of the investigation, all necessary and appropriate actions will be taken to ensure that the building and planning laws are enforced and adhered to.
Chairman of the KSAMC and Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams further advised that the administrative regime for building approvals has been under review, which has resulted in several measures being implemented to strengthen these processes.
Mr Williams welcomed the recommendations of Director Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn in her 12 page ruling on the Charlemont development and committed to keeping the public informed about the findings of the investigation.
The DPP recommended that the breaches of the building permit at the development be referred to the KSAMC to conduct an administrative review in accordance with the provisions of the Building Act.
Ms Llewellyn said, based on the results of the review, it would be within the remit of the KSAMC to decide whether to invite the police to investigate possible breaches of the Act.
The DPP also recommended training of staff and officers in the Building Act and other relevant laws and an administrative review to strengthen accountability procedures.
In the meantime, NEPA, which is facing criticism for failing to act on a breach of the environmental permit granted to the Barnetts, says the issue will be discussed at a Natural Resources Conservation Authority/Town & Country Planning Authority meeting, scheduled for next week Tuesday.
The agency has promised that a statement will be issued following that meeting.
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