THE EDITOR, Sir:
RESPONDING TO the letter of December 6, 2005 titled 'Squatting devaluing several communities' I was impressed to note how true a description it was of the Jamaican setting, as in respect of most residential housing areas squatting is allowed to flourish.
The problem of squatting is a result of the non-enforcement of the building laws of the various councils throughout Jamaica. This enforcement goes beyond mere prevention of illegal occupation or shacks built in a disorderly manner and without proper or hygienic facilities. It also takes into consideration additions to existing structures without approved plans by the relevant authorities, breaches of covenants, trespassing and the 'capturing' of lands.
The building department of each council should monitor, under the various building laws/regulations for each parish, the orderly development of the parish, and as such officers of that Department should be assigned to enforce same.
DISORDERLY DEVELOPMENT
The local authorities contribute to disorderly development by their lack of supervision in this area, thereby causing ghettos of squatting villages to develop, concentrating crime and producing communities that expand into lawful well-constructed housing areas. Even the squatters themselves ( who in many instances have cultivated tastes despite their poverty) observe this phenomenon as a ramshackle and ugly affair, but a sense that their needs are ignored stifles any concern. They too cry for order and effective systems but with accessibility and real opportunity for all.
In a nutshell, local authorities
contribute to the development of crime in a big way by failing to enforce the building laws/regulations. Representatives need to make periodic census-based representation to obtain land from those landlords (including the government) who own large tracts of land to make these lands available to be properly developed from time to time to satisfy the growing population in the different areas.
COUNCILLOR WORK GROWING ROOT
Local Government Reform, attempted on different occasions but not brought to its finality, is a part of the root cause, but I hasten to say that this may be the intention of those that govern from Parliament, as they may be wary of the work of a councillor garnering grassroots that may compete with the influence of the MP within particular divisions. This is especially so where it is obvious that a councillor is advocating on behalf of his constituents while the MP is otherwise concerned.
It should not be too difficult to find a real distinction between the duties of the local authorities and those of central government, allowing for vigorous local authorities that do not step on the toes of the MP.
This country needs a local authority so constitutionally established as not to be dependent on a central government, but to operate as another check on their power and a reliable and unconflicted voice in the interest of local communities.
I am, etc.,
BANCROFT St. ELMO ANGLIN
6 Gary Drive
Ensom City, Spanish Town
