IN THE wake of the hurricane damage to building property in at least five parishes the Mayors have adopted a zero tolerance approach to prevailing laxity in enforcing preventive measures.
This has emerged in the series of post-Ivan Editors Forums this newspaper has been staging in the western and southern sections of the island most affected by the hurricane. The new resolve by the Mayors, however, may depend on the extent to which the deficiencies exposed are speedily corrected. And this has to happen in the context of the national reconstruction which has been launched.
Even so, it is already clear that many of the problems will come within the purview of the local authorities. For example, there is an admitted shortage in the number of building inspectors whose role is to monitor construction to ensure compliance with the existing Building Code.
Already there is reported conflict in Manchester between building contractors and the parish authorities about the frequency of inspections. As reported in this week's Sunday Gleaner, contractors claim there is inadequate inspection of buildings, while the parish Superintendent of Works rejects this claim on the basis that many breaches were reported from some 60 inspections conducted monthly.
The proof of the pudding is the reality that extensive hurricane damage has been done to buildings which clearly were not erected in accordance with the Building Code.
The Prime Minister last week ordered a halt to the rebuilding which had started in the Portland Cottage community of southeast Clarendon. He cited the importance of the relevant state agencies enforcing the Building Code. This code stipulates specific safety procedures in construction as well the siting of residential structures which must have adequate means of disposing of waste. The latter requirement would rule out flood-prone terrain unsuitable to sustain pit latrines, the most affordable of such facilities.
The foreword of the second edition of the Building Code dated 1992 acknowledges that the code is subject to change in keeping with new materials and methods of construction in the building industry. Hence, there is continuing review by a Standing Review Committee under the aegis of the Bureau of Standards. Such a review is currently being conducted, officials say. We must put the mechanisms in place to stop the widespread violation of this code.
The impact of the hurricane should give urgent impetus to the eradication of squatter settlements as part of the reconstruction, mindful of the strictures imposed by the Building Code.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
