Residents of Whitehouse are not being targeted, says Mayor Vernon

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, has firmly refuted allegations that the St James Municipal Corporation is unfairly targeting residents of the Whitehouse community. Speaking at a recent community meeting, Vernon addressed concerns regarding the issuance of cease and desist notices for structures built in the area, asserting that such claims are entirely baseless.

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There is absolutely no truth to information circulating that the St James Municipal Corporation is targeting the Whitehouse community. We have served notices on residents in Bogue Village, Rosevale, Rhyne Park, Westgate Hills, Cornwall Courts…not just in areas where there are informal developments, but also formal communities, because they too are doing extensions to their homes, additions here and there and making major changes without the necessary approvals.

Mayor Vernon clarified that the municipal corporation has been issuing similar notices across hundreds of communities throughout the parish over the past year. He stressed that these actions are not exclusive to informal settlements but have also been directed at residents in more affluent areas who are undertaking extensions or making significant changes to their homes without the requisite approvals. "There is absolutely no truth to information circulating that the St James Municipal Corporation is targeting the Whitehouse community," Vernon stated, emphasizing that the process is applied broadly to ensure compliance with development orders.

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Why not now? This move will cost you the residents nothing other than the cost associated with getting your title…The St James Municipal Corporation wants to work with you and the relevant agencies to ensure that the regularisation takes place as is for the benefit of the citizens of Whitehouse. We are doing what we are doing now, so that the community of Whitehouse can dovetail into the wider development of the city of Montego Bay.

He further explained that the corporation, acting as the local planning authority, has a responsibility to ensure all construction adheres to approved development plans. This is crucial not only for the sake of planning but also to guarantee that regulatory agencies are satisfied with the developments. Vernon highlighted that the intervention in Whitehouse is intended to facilitate the regularisation of land and properties, ultimately benefiting the residents by ensuring they receive titles and secure tenure. He unequivocally stated that the move is non-political and solely focused on promoting orderly development and empowering the citizens of Whitehouse with secure land ownership.

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This move is non-political and has only one aim: this is to ensure that the properties remain in the hands of the hard-working citizens of Whitehouse and that they all receive titles which in essence is power in their hands and security of tenure. The notices which were served were done on the basis of ensuring that orderly development takes place.