KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is raising concerns over a development at Fort Rocky, Port Royal, where it says construction activities have been taking place without its approval.

Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby led an urgent site visit to assess the situation, noting that the demolition of structures, clearing of mangrove lands, and unregulated construction were all conducted without consultation with the municipal authority.

“The KSAMC was neither consulted nor involved in the approval process for these works, yet as the local authority, we have had to intervene to assess and address the breaches,” Swaby said.

The area, which has been earmarked for transformation into an entertainment zone, is being developed under a project led by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport (MCGES) and the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT). However, the KSAMC said the work began without its input, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.

The corporation intends to serve notices to the JNHT, while the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has already issued two enforcement notices for multiple environmental breaches.

KSAMC emphasised its commitment to ensuring that development projects follow proper regulatory procedures while balancing economic interests with environmental and heritage conservation.