THE Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) yesterday gave tenants of illegal commercial buildings at Caledonia Road, Cross Roads, two more days to vacate the premises to facilitate the demolition.

Town Clerk Errol Greene says that the delay was due to the KSAC's inability to demolish the buildings this weekend, rather than the corporation relenting on its deadline for them to quit the premises at the corner of Old Hope Road and Caledonia Road by tomorrow night.

"They were able to get a little breathing room because, practically, we would not be able to demolish the buildings before next week," Green said after he and Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, met the tenants a second time.

The tenants, who operate various businesses in the illegally constructed buildings owned by businessman Michael Dibbs, said that they needed more time to make arrangements to relocate. But the KSAC is insisting that Dibbs' breaches of its building regulations and cease construction notices have been going on for too long.

The corporation said that in light of his behaviour, it will be carrying out the Supreme Court's order to demolish the buildings next week.

McKenzie, Greene and members of the KSAC's Building and Town Planning Committee are overwhelmingly in favour of carrying out the demolition order, although they have expressed sympathy with the shop owners who are caught up in the middle.

According to committee chair Deputy Mayor Lee Clarke, Dibbs has not shown any respect for the KSAC for years, forcing the corporation to take the matter to the Supreme Court.

"We are finished talking now. We are going to carry out the order of the court," Clarke insisted.

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