Mayor of Spanish Town Norman Scott
.png)
Norman Scott, Chairman of the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation
By Nakinskie Robinson
As the government moves ahead with plans to boost affordable housing solutions for the needy, under the New Social Housing Programme, the St. Catherine Municipal Corporation is frustrated with what it says is disregard for its role in the process.
The local authority, which is responsible for planning and approving the building of houses, says it has not approved any of the homes handed over to recipients in St. Catherine, prior to construction.
Mayor of Spanish Town, Norman Scott, argues that municipal corporations must be properly consulted throughout the build-out process.
"The law states that any kind of development, if you are going to do on top of the earth, below the earth, then the municipal corporation must give the authority, so it's not a if or a but."
While he commended the initiative of the government to provide housing solutions to the needy, he called for the municipal corporation to be allowed to certify that the structures are being properly built.
Mayor Scott said the municipal corporation has the authority to issue a stop order for unapproved buildings.
He noted that the primary concern is the safety and integrity of the structures being constructed.
According to the mayor, the government still has the opportunity to submit a floor plan of the buildings for the corporation's approval.
"The government can now - like what we are doing for some infant schools that were built without any permission - [submit the plans] and we issue a certification," he said.
comments powered by Disqus
.jpg)
.jpg)
All feeds
