Weak regulations cause of building collapse - contractor

Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Well-known Montego Bay building contractor Errol Lamey says the absence of stringent building checks is responsible for the collapse of a section of a two-storey structure in the commercial area of the Second City on Tuesday.

"This is gross negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of the parish council, and they must explain why this was allowed to be built in the first place," Lamey declared. "This is a poorly structured building, and this should not have been allowed."

The contractor, who holds an associate degree in construction management and has more than 32 years' experience in the industry, said questions should now be raised into the kind of monitoring system that is in place to inspect buildings in St James.

Mayor dismisses claims

There were no reported injuries from Tuesday's collapse, which occurred along the lower section of Union Street, but the municipal authority has since issued a condemn notice and ordered the occupants of the building, which houses a bar, salon and barber shop, to vacate the premises.

However, Mayor Charles Sinclair, chairman of the council, has rubbished Lamey's assertions.

"I am almost 50 years old, and that building was there long before. While I cannot tell you what exactly caused the collapse, my bet would be on wear and tear because it's a very old building."

According to Sinclair, under the current building laws, the local authority cannot enforce maintenance, but is only allowed to deal with buildings in a dilapidated state.

"That is when the council can take action, but I cannot walk around and say, 'Paint your building'."

The St James Parish Council has four building inspectors charged with the responsibility to monitor the myriad of developments taking place in the parish.

Mayor of Falmouth Collen Gager said buildings in his parish are monitored by the technical department, which is headed by the superintendent of roads and works. However, with the parish capital being designated a heritage site in the late 1990s, decisions are made in dialogue with the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT).

In Hanover, the officers from the municipal police are responsible to monitor the town's infrastructure.

"We get our technical team involved after our officers might identify a building or a structure that is of concern," Councillor Lloyd Hill, mayor of Lucea, told The Gleaner yesterday.

"We have an obligation, however, to contact the heritage trust if it is one of our Georgian buildings."

mark.titus@gleanerjm.com