MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica—Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Collen Gager, is urging business developers within the municipality to comply with regulatory standards and obtain the necessary permits to ensure safer and more sustainable building practices.

He noted that enforcement drives are continuing across the municipality and encouraged developers who have begun construction without permits to regularise their status and settle outstanding payments.

Gager was speaking during the Trelawny Municipal Corporation’s monthly meeting, held on March 12 at the Artisan Village in Falmouth.

He indicated that notices have already been served to several property owners with unpermitted structures, adding that the Corporation will intensify enforcement efforts to address the issue of unregistered developments.

“We have had persons visiting the Superintendent’s Office [in charge of Roads and Works], but there is still a lot of [unpermitted] building taking place. As a Council, we intend to ensure that all these buildings are brought into compliance,” the mayor said.

Gager emphasised that building permits are essential to maintaining safety standards, particularly in light of recent weather events.

“We have just experienced Hurricane Melissa, and there will be many more storms to come. We must ensure that whatever we build, we build back better and stronger,” he maintained.

The Mayor further indicated that the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, along with members of the Commercial Services Department, will conduct site visits to locations where construction is taking place.

“We want to ensure that everything the Municipal Corporation requires is in place,” he added.

Gager is also advising business operators with outstanding taxes for billboards and signage to make arrangements to settle their accounts.

“We do not want when the team visits your business place, that you start taking down the signs. Remember, the signs would have been up for quite some time,” he stated.

Gager reassured business owners that the Corporation is prepared to work with those experiencing financial challenges.

“We are not turning away anybody. We are saying, come in and work with us. If you are having difficulty, there is something we can work out,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mayor announced that the Municipal Corporation’s property tax team will be visiting several communities across northern and southern Trelawny.

The scheduled visits are Rio Bueno on March 18, Albert Town on March 19, and Duncans on March 20, as part of the Corporation’s ongoing outreach to improve property tax compliance across the parish.

-JIS