THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WISH to bring to light a problem I have and to highlight the ineffectiveness of the St. Catherine Parish Council. I reside in Keystone, Spanish Town. The owner of the lot adjacent to my property started construction of a house in June 2000 and began digging a pit one foot from my fence. As I understand it the law states that pits should be placed 5 feet from any wall and must be of a certain depth and construction.
I informed the St. Catherine Parish Council and a Mr. Johnson along with senior members of the Council came and inspected the pit and agreed that the location of the pit was illegal. He assured me that the Parish Council would handle the matter.
LOOKING INTO THE MATTER
The owner of the lot continued with the construction and after numerous phone calls to the Parish Council with the same reply, "we are looking into the matter," in frustration I approached the Keystone Citizens Association for assistance and a letter was written on the 14/3/01 to the Parish Council regarding the matter.
ENFORCEMENT NOTICE
The Parish Council then sent a letter to the Citizens Association dated 13/5/01 informing them that an Enforcement Notice was served on the owner of the lot in regards to the complaints raised. Despite all of this, construction continued so I went in to speak with Mr. Michael Morris, the Manager/Secretary of the Parish Council, who also informed me that they were looking into the matter. Let me add that at this point the pit was completed.
A letter was also sent to the MP for the area, the Hon. K.D. Knight, who came with an entourage and looked at the pit, despite all of this the pit remained. Needless to say the house is built and was occupied and still the illegal pit remains one foot from my fence.
I contacted NEPA who advised that if the pit is not properly constructed and not at the recommended depth, seepage from the pit can enter the water table and pollute the water, and if I have a leak in my pipes it will contaminate my water supply and pose a health hazard to my family.
NO PUNITIVE ACTIONS
What is the point of paying taxes and obeying the laws of the land when there are those who act as they please and no punitive actions are taken against them. What purpose does the Parish Council serve, if an Enforcement Notice was indeed served on the owner of the lot? Was any follow-up done by the Council, and if there was and the owner had not complied, what then?
My only recourse now is to take legal action and this, as you know, is quite costly and also a lengthy process.
I am, etc.,
CARMELITA COHEN
117 Lisa Terrace
Keystone, St. Catherine
