The Young Jamaica organisation is expressing concern over what it considers the “state of affairs” at the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

In light of breaches of the Building Act surrounding a three-storey property managed by People’s National Party (PNP) councillor Dennis Gordon, the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is adamant about ‘challenging’ the “curious stances” of both Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby and KSAMC town clerk Robert Hill.

FULL STATEMENT READS:

“We have taken particular note of media reports, which detail that major anti-corruption and criminal investigative bodies are probing breaches to the Building Act as well as suspected corrupt violation of processes at the corporation in relation to the construction of an illegal commercial building. The J$300 million illegal structure houses the company JACDEN which is directly connected to senior People’s National Party (PNP) Councillor Dennis Gordon. The councillor for the Maxfield Park Division also served as the former KSAMC finance committee chairman, building committee member, and is the current constituency chairman and prospective PNP candidate for East Central St. Andrew.

In the midst of the ongoing major investigations as well as Councillor Gordon’s resignation from committee roles, the curious stances of both Mayor Councillor Andrew Swaby, and the KSAMC chief executive officer (CEO) and Town Clerk Robert Hill, must be challenged as a matter of urgency.

The public’s confidence in the leadership of the KSAMC has been damaged by this probe into a flagrant aberration of trust and accountability occurring within less than nine short months of PNP Mayor Swaby’s administration. The failure of the town clerk to allay concerns regarding several suspected administrative and technical breaches also smacks in the face of the discerning public.

Recent statements issued by the KSAMC, in both instances, have sought to deliberately avoid responding directly to queries regarding the issuance of a building permit. The Jamaican people want to know whether this is an indication of political interference or a reluctance of the mayor and CEO to impartially discharge their duties.

Given these circumstances, Young Jamaica calls on the KSAMC leadership to answer the following valid queries from the Jamaican people as gleaned through various social media outlets.

Responses to these will begin the process to restore trust in the operations of the beleaguered Municipal Corporation:

1.  Were Andrew Swaby and CEO Robert Hill aware of the stop order placed on the JACDEN building at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road?

2.   Was political influence used to lift the stop order?

3.   Did Andrew Swaby visit the JACDEN Building located at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road at any time during its construction?

4.   Did the Town Clerk Robert Hill visit the JACDEN Building located at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road at any time?

5.    Did Engineers and/or a Medical team from Cuba visit the JACDEN building located at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road at any time?

6.   ⁠Did Cllr Dennis Gordon receive fire or public liability insurance for the JACDEN building located at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road?

7.    ⁠Was a permit applied for by Cllr Dennis Gordon for an event to be held in the JACDEN building located at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road in October?

8.    If yes, was a permit granted for this event?

9.    ⁠If yes, did the CEO, Robert Hill, sign this permit?

10.  Is it standard practice to issue permits for events held in buildings which are in breach of the Building Act, with a cease order in effect?

11.  ⁠Are public liability insurance and fire permits standard for issuance of Amusement Licenses?

12.   What fees were paid to the KSAMC, if any, by Councillor Dennis Gordon’s company JACDEN for the event hosted in October 2024 at the JACDEN Building located at 18 3/4 Lyndhurst Road?

13. ⁠Did the local board of health carry out any inspections at the JACDEN Building considering that they are a “new medical facility”?