The commercial district of New Kingston and the adjoining residential communities are being overrun by rats and primarily through State indolence, absolutely nothing is being done to combat the situation. Indeed, the situation has become so acute that the Police are now cautioning visitors to New Kingston and residents of nearby residential communities to check the engine compartments of their cars after conducting business in New Kingston for rats. Ironically, the New Kingston Police Post has been a victim of this situation as well, in so far as at least two (2) service vehicles have been reportedly disabled after rats chewed several wires and cables in the engine compartments of the respective units. This problem is being replicated in Seymour Lands and is also attributable to the poor solid waste disposal mechanisms of restaurants operating illegally in the community coupled with equally poor construction waste disposal practices in a community that has been literally teeming with new construction projects.
Repeated complaints have only led to cursory action by the State in New Kingston with no real sustainable and effective strategies being employed to tackle the root causes of the rodent infestation. In the residential communities, there have been no interventions by either central or local government agencies to either combat the rodent infestation or treat with the appalling solid waste disposal practices of restaurants which are also operating in breach of the restrictive covenants and zoning laws governing these communities. Similarly, though there have been repeated complaints to the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) complete with photographs clearly depicting the issue of inadequate disposal of constructive waste, there has been no effort to treat with the situation by the local authority.
Indeed, the indifference of the state apparatus is now so stark that a relatively new restaurant in Seymour Lands, which have been repeatedly found in breach of the Noise Abatement Act by the Police, had been operating without a spirit license, been the scene of numerous robberies and at least one rape, has recently been granted a spirit license by the State, with no reference to the citizenry which had repeatedly objected to the varying untoward activities being conducted at the location. This is particularly poignant since the approval was granted immediately after the Police had reportedly successfully prosecuted the owners for operating without a license.
Therefore, yet again the pronouncements by the KSAC about zero tolerance are seemingly attention grabbing headlines tailored for an eager press rather than a statement of intent to confront the real issues affecting communities. Indeed, in this new dispensation where Local Authorities, including the KSAC, are slated to be given more autonomy, there has to be a greater degree of accountability for the local authorities. The residents of Seymour Lands and New Kingston arguably pay the highest property taxes in Jamaica, with taxation levels in the past routinely exceeding $100,000 per annum in instances but yet have little or no representation in terms of local governance. The communities at best receive a polite hearing from the local authority but very little is usually accomplished. In the present scenario, the matter is critical as residents fear an outbreak of leptospirosis, as the communities are being overrun by rats and no longer have the impetus or time to engage in meaningless banter with an inefficient and ineffective local government apparatus which refuses to fulfill its statutory obligations. Apparently, in the new dispensation only court action will rouse them from their slumber as the Local Authorities must be held to a higher standard of accountability and performance.
Repeated complaints have only led to cursory action by the State in New Kingston with no real sustainable and effective strategies being employed to tackle the root causes of the rodent infestation. In the residential communities, there have been no interventions by either central or local government agencies to either combat the rodent infestation or treat with the appalling solid waste disposal practices of restaurants which are also operating in breach of the restrictive covenants and zoning laws governing these communities. Similarly, though there have been repeated complaints to the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) complete with photographs clearly depicting the issue of inadequate disposal of constructive waste, there has been no effort to treat with the situation by the local authority.
Indeed, the indifference of the state apparatus is now so stark that a relatively new restaurant in Seymour Lands, which have been repeatedly found in breach of the Noise Abatement Act by the Police, had been operating without a spirit license, been the scene of numerous robberies and at least one rape, has recently been granted a spirit license by the State, with no reference to the citizenry which had repeatedly objected to the varying untoward activities being conducted at the location. This is particularly poignant since the approval was granted immediately after the Police had reportedly successfully prosecuted the owners for operating without a license.
Therefore, yet again the pronouncements by the KSAC about zero tolerance are seemingly attention grabbing headlines tailored for an eager press rather than a statement of intent to confront the real issues affecting communities. Indeed, in this new dispensation where Local Authorities, including the KSAC, are slated to be given more autonomy, there has to be a greater degree of accountability for the local authorities. The residents of Seymour Lands and New Kingston arguably pay the highest property taxes in Jamaica, with taxation levels in the past routinely exceeding $100,000 per annum in instances but yet have little or no representation in terms of local governance. The communities at best receive a polite hearing from the local authority but very little is usually accomplished. In the present scenario, the matter is critical as residents fear an outbreak of leptospirosis, as the communities are being overrun by rats and no longer have the impetus or time to engage in meaningless banter with an inefficient and ineffective local government apparatus which refuses to fulfill its statutory obligations. Apparently, in the new dispensation only court action will rouse them from their slumber as the Local Authorities must be held to a higher standard of accountability and performance.
3 comments:
This is so timely. Mayor McKenzie needs to remember that to whom much is given much is expected. Where are the Public Health people? Are they all going to wait until we have a full blown health crisis and several people have died before they intervene?. I agree with this blog, perhaps its time to sue. Enough is enough!
Yes,indeed,a law suit would definitely be in order.
What about Minister Grange's proposal for entertainment zones. It is almost a given that New Kingston will be among those. Any comments? I don't live there but would hate to see my neighborhood declared an entertainment zone.
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