KINGSTON Mayor Desmond McKenzie has issued a warning to developers that the integrity of the council of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) would not be compromised by approving buildings that were not in compliance with the building codes.

According to McKenzie, some developers are of the view that the approval of their building plans must be expedited because they had gone to the bank and borrowed money and interest was accruing on their loans while they waited on the building committee.

However, the mayor told the council Tuesday that while the KSAC would not want to stop a development, where, for instance, construction would be taking place in a flood-prone area, “due diligence and time will be taken into account in giving approval”.

“If they are going to question the time we take in processing the application, then move to another parish. We don’t want to approve a development that will lead to death,” he argued.

He said that the earthquake in Haiti was a wake-up call.

The mayor urged councillors to keep a watchful eye and report to the council buildings that they saw being erected without approval.

He also urged the building inspectors to keep a keen eye on new constructions.

Meanwhile, in at least two cases where buildings are allegedly being constructed without KSAC approval, McKenzie said that a court order would be sought to demolish them.

He said that a two-bedroom house in Cooreville Gardens had been transformed into a 22-room apartment.

“Every aspect of the construction is in total violation of the KSAC building codes. We have got a commitment from the owner but every night something is added,” he said.

McKenzie said that the KSAC lawyers had instructions to seek a court order to demolish the structure and return it to the original building.

The mayor told the council that at a premises in Mona, a two-bedroom house had been converted into a 16-room apartment. He said that the developer was continuing to build despite the fact that the KSAC lawyers had filed an injunction.

The mayor also said that a popular plaza on the Constant Spring Road had been flouting the KSAC’s regulations.

“Every addition done there over the last seven years was done without the approval of the Building and Town Planning Committee,” McKenzie said.

He said that the attorneys would be going to court to seek an injunction against any further construction.