Frustrated residents in Mona Heights, St Andrew, are demanding action from the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) following what they described as chaotic building construction in their neighbourhood.

Tensions peaked last month when residents saw steel work suggesting that a third floor would likely be added to a single family residence under construction. They reported the matter to the KSAMC, which, on April 29, placed a stop order on the construction pending an investigation.

Councillor Gary Gordon (Jamaica Labour Party, Mona Division) told the
Jamaica Observer that he reported the matter on April 26 and was told by representatives at the KSAMC that the developers said that what was being constructed atop the building “was a staircase and a recreational area, not a [third floor]”.

However, president of the Mona Heights Citizens’ Association Winsome Johns-Gayle said that residents believe that despite the stop order construction will continue. She said residents are frustrated with the KSAMC’s handling of reports of building violations in the community and do not believe their complaints are taken seriously.

“Homeowners in Mona are extremely displeased with what appears to be chaotic building construction in the community. Mona Heights residents do not want any three-storey or higher buildings. We insist that only two-storey buildings are conducive to the community and environment,” she told the
Sunday Observer.

“Mona Heights citizens are calling for a temporary halt to KSAMC building approvals and an immediate development consultation with the community before building approvals resume. We also call for immediate stop orders and demolition, not regularisation, of constructions that are non-compliant with building approvals and prosecution of persons who persist with non-compliant developments,” she said.

The Sunday Observer made multiple attempts to get a comment from Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby on how the KSAMC will address the concerns raised by the residents and their requests for building approvals to be halted until a meeting is held to discuss the issue. However, those efforts were futile as calls to Swaby’s cellular phone and messages with questions were left unanswered.

Meanwhile, Johns-Gayle said the residents are seeking assistance from the public defender in this matter.

“What should we expect for approvals going forward? Are we to be consulted? Are conditions of approval consistent with current building codes for Mona Heights? What level of oversight and inspections are undertaken? If the citizens are doing it for you, why haven’t you listened to our reports?” she questioned.

Johns-Gayle said that not only are three-storey buildings prohibited in the residential area, but they infringe on residents’ privacy.

“I mean, you live in your house, you live there as a resident for a certain amount of years, you don’t want a three-storey building beside you to be looking into your bedroom. You will have no privacy and if it is illegal, it is illegal, it ought not to be done,” Johns-Gayle said.

“That is what has happened to a lot of housing areas, including Hope Pastures. People have to run away leave them place because they can’t stay. The same thing has happened on Wellington Drive. If you drive down there people use to live in homes down there, but they don’t live there anymore because all of these things put up around them… on all four sides. They have to be running to get privacy… We can’t have that in Mona. We can’t have something going up that is going to disturb people,” she said.

“Complaints have been made about other construction that violate permits but buildings have been allowed to be completed and occupied. This must stop!” she insisted.

A resident, who has lived in the community for more than 30 years told the
Sunday Observer that “if you were to look around the community you would only see two-storey buildings and that is for a reason. Nobody wants anyone looking over into their yard”.

Another resident questioned the developers’ claim that a third storey was not being constructed.

“Ginnalship! They intended a third floor, and if not closely monitored it will quietly continue. I just passed the building and work goes on,” said the resident on May 1.

“The plan is to complete the third floor then seek to regularise. It is only effective and intentional leadership which can halt this travesty,” he added.