Latest update November 27th, 2024 1:00 AM
Latest News
- ExxonMobil reports ‘record September’ to shareholders as production peaks to 660,000 barrels
- Suriname to deposit royalty from oil to citizens’ bank accounts
- Israel, Hezbollah agree to ceasefire brokered by US and France, to take effect Wednesday
- Fire completely destroys KN, Bhenas Footwear warehouse leaving hundreds of millions in losses
- We must demand a referendum to end this madness.
The more things change at City Hall, the more they remain the same
DEAR EDITOR,
So the ‘Big Ones’ at City Hall have sprung awake and suddenly realised all is not well in Houston Gardens where an American company is constructing a petrochemical bond in violation of a purported ‘cease order’ and have moved in to enforce it by stopping the works that were underway.
And this sounds like a routine function for a city to undertake except one wonders why the municipality is always so reactionary rather than proactive. Why don’t they stop unlawful works in the city as soon as it starts or when it is first reported rather than waiting until these illegal works are far advanced before stopping it.
Why does it have to take a crusade by nearby residents who will be adversely affected before corrective action is undertaken? Wouldn’t the Public Health Department of the city whom I assume the building plan had to go to as part of the approval process, not have been concerned of the health risks to the nearby residents before the plan was approved? Would the Engineering Department not have been concerned about the location of this industrial and commercial complex being cited in the middle of a residential area and what was identified for agricultural purposes.
Let us just look at the skyscraper going up at the corners of Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road in Kitty, which was not stopped until it reached about seven floors up. Are the Engineers of the City unaware of the covenant that prevents structures overlooking certain facilities such as the military headquarters of the country, the Law Courts, etc?
It makes no sense having so much money, time and effort invested and wasted before stepping in to stop these violations. Even worse one wonders how the plans were approved in the first place.
Some time ago, it was published in the press that a comprehensive study was done into the workings of the City Engineer’s Department and a report known as the ‘Charles Liburd Report’ put up and approved, which cited these very defects including the ignominy of the very building inspectors from the city who have to inspect and participate in the approval process for the plans drawing these plans themselves.
The more things change at City Hall, the more they remain the same. If this is one of the first projects consequent to our major oil find, we can only hope that City Hall will get itself together to regulate the other business that will be coming along in our capital to support the oil industry.
Sincerely,
Mark Roopan
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