KINGSTON, Jamaica — Persons  waiting  for the  Kingston and St Andrew Corporation  (KSAC) to approve their building applications can now track the approval process  through  an AMANDA electronic system, Kingston Mayor Angela Brown Burke disclosed yesterday.

The mayor, who boasted that the KSAC was now processing 80 per cent  of the building applications it received within  90 days, told the Council that since 2012, systemic changes had been made at the KSAC to make the building application process more transparent.

In 2012/ 2013, several developers criticised the slow turnaround process at the KSAC.

The mayor said that even though in some instances  a manual system was still being used when the building application was made, once it was entered, it was put on an electronic list and could be tracked right through until it went to the meeting of the Building and Town Planning Committee.

Brown Burke said that a help desk had also been set up at the KSAC to enable people with building plans to have their preliminary questions answered.

The mayor, who noted the arrest of a building officer employed to the KSAC by the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency recently, said that the Corporation was not in support of corrupt behaviour.

“In early 2012 a decision was taken that the perception of corruption could not continue. We decided that transparent would shine the light and would expose those involved in corrupt practices,” Brown Burke insisted.

“I have made it clear that the KSAC does not support officers who solicit money for the job they are doing, or who want persons to let off to ensure the quick turnaround of their application,” she continued.

The mayor said that people had complained that they were being pressured, “but refused to give details to allow us to take action”.

If an applicant believes that the application is taking too long “then call us”, the mayor urged.

Brown Burke said that the KSAC would cooperate with the police fully.

Claudienne Edwards