On a recent Sunday, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) pressed forward with its sustained enforcement campaign targeting unauthorised signage and billboards, focusing its latest efforts on commercial plazas situated in the busy Half-Way-Tree district of Kingston, Jamaica.
Robert Hill, chief executive officer of the KSAMC, reported that compliance with local signage regulations has climbed in recent months, reflecting growing awareness among business owners and signage operators across the parish. Between January and March, and through the subsequent enforcement phase, municipal officials observed a clear uptick in voluntary removal of unapproved structures, as stakeholders developed a clearer understanding of the regulatory requirements. Even with this progress, Hill noted that enforcement operations remain necessary, and the corporation will send formal notices to non-compliant business operators to urge resolution of outstanding regulatory violations. He expects compliance rates to climb further as ongoing enforcement reinforces public understanding of the initiative’s purpose.
Hill emphasized that the campaign is a required statutory duty under Jamaica’s Town and Country Planning Act, meaning the KSAMC cannot pause its work despite disappointment that full voluntary compliance has not yet been achieved. “We are a little bit disappointed that we still have to be doing this, but we have our duties to do. The law requires us to carry out these duties, and we have to do it. Yes, we’d want a greater level of compliance and a greater level of recognition of why we’re doing this, but it is necessary,” Hill stated, reaffirming the corporation’s commitment to upholding its legal mandates moving forward.
Beyond regulatory enforcement, the KSAMC has announced a major accessibility investment to improve public spaces for disabled residents across Kingston and St Andrew. The corporation has earmarked $10 million in earned revenue to upgrade ramps, sidewalks and driveway access points, making public and commercial spaces easier for disabled people to navigate. To ensure the upgrades align with best practices for disability inclusion, the KSAMC is partnering with the University of the West Indies Centre for Disability Studies on the project. Hill framed the investment as a core public safety and equity initiative, designed to prioritise the safety and access needs of vulnerable disabled community members.
The dual announcements mark the KSAMC’s ongoing work to both enforce local planning rules and advance equitable infrastructure development across the capital parish, addressing two key public priorities simultaneously.