John Myers, Jr., Staff ReporterAS THE Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) moves to rid the city's streets of illegal roadside garages, Mayor Desmond McKenzie said the corporation is working closely with the HEART Trust/NTA to absorb some of the operators who will be displaced by enforcement actions, which are scheduled to commence on Monday.
"I need to state that we are aware of the dislocations that may result from this effort, but we cannot close our eyes to illegal activities," Mayor McKenzie said while addressing reporters at his chambers yesterday.
He said the KSAC "intends to work closely with HEART/NTA in this re-training exercise, as well as in seeking to find alternative sources of employment
for them in legally operated garages." The mayor noted, also, that he was in dialogue with Dean Peart, Minister of Land and Environment, who has agreed to assist the local authority in identifying other landspace to relocate some of the illegal garages.
The KSAC announced that it will begin its crackdown on Monday, after initial plans were postponed on May 27. "We have identified 16 locations for the initial stage of the programme... (which) will involve the removal of vehicles obstructing the flow of traffic and pedestrians."
He said discontinuation notices will also be served on offenders to cease illegal activities, with failure to comply resulting in action being taken by the KSAC.
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS
Mr. McKenzie explained that after extensive legal consultations, the Council will proceed with the operation under the Health Nuisance Regulations "which allows us to move immediately on some of these problems."
While the Health Nuisance Regulations do not address the problem of illegal roadside garages, they address the problems of health risks associated with the creation of smoke, dust, fumes and other health hazards.
Errol Green, the KSAC's Town Clerk, said the team would be targeting mainly the Patrick City, Eastwood Park Gardens and Duhaney Park areas in the first phase. "One thing I would encourage (offenders) to do is to ensure that they don't leave the debris behind, because we will remove it; but it is going to be at a cost to the owners of these properties," Mr. Greene asserted.
