Dear Editor,
According to Kaieteur News of November 2, 2008 (‘Illegal construction recommences in residential area’), despite the pleas of the residents in Subryanville over the construction of a three-storey commercial building in that residential area, and despite a ‘cease’ order by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to halt construction of the building, the developer has once again recommenced construction at the site.
As a former Director of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) I am aware the board upon receipt of the documents referred to and plans of the developer shall transmit copies thereof to the Central Board of Health, the Occupational Health and Safety Depart-ment, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Fire Service for their consideration and recommendations. The board shall, notwithstanding anything in any other written law, upon receipt of the recommendations of the entities to which the documents and plans were transmitted and taking those recommendations into consideration decide whether or not a permit should be granted for the construction of this kind of activity. Since this area is a residential one it is illegal for a hardware store, restaurant and bar to be established in the residential community.
While the ultimate responsibility for the organisation and management of physical planning rests with central government (Central Housing and Planning Authority), which administers the relevant legislation, it is the City Hall authorities which implement the statutory provisions on the ground. It is my opinion that City Hall should be more dynamic in its work, especially in the orderly and progressive development of the respective areas. A system of comprehensive control over all developments is catered for under the George-town Development Plan and the provisions of the ‘enabling’ Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter20:01, which requires that all development and any material change in the use of a building or land is subject to the need for planning permission from the CH&PA and the planning authority.
These businesses should be established in the commercial area because they create a noise nuisance to their neighbours and attract criminals into the residential areas.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
