KINGSTON, Jamaica – Municipal authorities in Kingston and St. Andrew have intensified efforts to enhance construction safety through expanded public engagement. The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) is actively encouraging citizens to utilize its formal complaint mechanism to report potential violations of national building standards.
Duane Allison, Senior Building Officer at KSAMC, elaborated on the dual approach during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank session. While confirming that dedicated officers conduct regular zone patrols to identify unauthorized construction activities, Allison emphasized the critical role of community involvement through the corporation’s complementary complaint platform.
“Our surveillance system operates through specialized officers monitoring construction zones to detect regulatory breaches,” Allison stated. “Simultaneously, we’ve established a responsive public reporting channel where residents can alert us to violations, particularly after-hours construction or development in environmentally sensitive areas.”
The reporting process offers multiple access points: citizens can visit ksamc.gov.jm and navigate to the ‘report breaches’ section for digital submissions, or contact hotlines at (876) 967-0585/4195. Effective reports should include specific details such as property location and violation characteristics. Allison noted that complainants frequently report construction on gully reservations – protected natural drainage areas – prompting official investigations into project authorization status.
To facilitate evidence-based investigations, the system accepts photographic documentation and supplementary materials from reporters. Notably, KSAMC guarantees anonymity for individuals submitting concerns, though those seeking follow-up communication may provide contact information.
This initiative coincides with Jamaica’s Earthquake Awareness Week (January 11-17), organized under the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). With the thematic focus ‘Resilient Jamaica: We Weather the Storm and Brace for the Shake’, the campaign highlights the importance of code-compliant construction in mitigating seismic risks and ensuring structural integrity during natural disasters.