Dear Editor,

I am a resident of Bay View in Bull Bay and citizen of Jamaica. And at the time of writing this letter, 10:50 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2024, the air is full of the acrid smell of a coal-producing kiln.

This smoke not only causes problems in breathing but also significant irritation to the eyes, and is a problem for residents in the surrounding communities.

I have heard commercials from the Forestry Department informing the public that operating a coal kiln in a forest preserve is illegal; however, no mention is made of burning a coal kiln in residential neighbourhoods. This is unacceptable as legislation should seek first to protect the citizens of the country. And I am not discounting the fact that we need to protect the trees in the forest too.

I will be following up with the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) regarding this matter. Having just been elected/re-elected, members must understand that the work of the municipality is important. And I hope they realise that their first allegiance is not to their parties.

Most people did not participate in this past election primarily because of the disconnect between the political parties and the people they were elected to serve. A lot of Jamaicans have opted to do their own thing, and three million people doing their own thing is a recipe for disaster, something that’s already in progress.

There appears to be no regulation relating to buildings, no planning, and no enforcement. Councillors and Members of Parliament appear like mushrooms after a rainfall in their constituencies once in a while to speak to their party supporters, a situation which has been and continues to be totally unacceptable to all the citizens of their constituencies who are not in their parties.

Some councillors are like “duppies” and don’t show up at all.

Hugh M Dunbar

Bull Bay

hmdenergy@gmail.com