The local government authorities are yet to begin their promised programme of tearing down derelict buildings in downtown Kingston, many of which have, for years, been used as homes and continue to pose a risk to the very residents of the crumbling structures.

The issue has been a nagging one for successive administrations, with numerous promises of a solution each time dozens of people are left homeless, usually by a fire.

Last year April, after a massive blaze gutted a decrepit commercial-turned-residential building at 80 Church Street, killing a child and his mother, as well as a third resident, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) not only assisted the surviving residents, but also gave an undertaking to pay more attention to these structures. The corporation also said it had launched an initiative to lodge caveats in the courts against the titles for these properties, once it is apparent that the owners have abandoned their interest.

But 18 months later, the KSAMC has not been able to make much of a dent in that search. Yesterday, Town Clerk Robert Hill said the corporation was still trying to track down the owners of many of these buildings. “We are still going through that programme, albeit painstakingly. We are not where we want to be yet. We still have to have more dialogue with other agencies before we make any move in that regard. We are still doing some investigations,” he said.

In the wake of the fire, and the residents clamouring for assistance, Hill had said that if the owners of that particular property could not be found the titles could be found through the National Land Agency and the courts would dictate a period of time after which the KSAMC had to act.

He told the Jamaica Observer that in the interim talks are also continuing with the political representatives to come up with a plan shortly, but that the mayor would speak to timelines in the near future. Hill noted however that cash to deal with the problem continues to be a major hindrance for the KSAMC.

In the meantime, with the Christmas season just under two months away, the KSAMC is preparing to tighten its reins on vending activities in downtown Kingston, in the face of the generally increasing population of both legal and unauthorised vendors.

Commercial services manager at the KSAMC Gary Robotham said that in the off-peak season there are an estimated 6,000 legal and illegal vendors in the market and commercial district between Duke and Darling streets, but that the number could rise to as many as 10,000 during peak periods, such as the December festive season.