Extensions causing delay with conveyances

PROHIBITIVE extensions to Government units has created a problem in terms of executing transfers of the popular housing terraces.Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament (MP) for St Michael North West Christopher Sinckler, made this disclosure in the House of Assembly, yesterday evening.Speaking on a resolution for the acquisition of two parcels of land at Deacons, Sinckler acknowledged that the situation highlighted what was legally right and what had become necessary for some low income families.“On attaining the Government, this administration true to its word in the manifesto, even in a very difficult period of time, was able at first bat, to execute its transfer of housing units on a 20-year basis.“But we have run into problems with them. Persons were called upon because of the constraints of space to attach things onto the units, extensions, which may not have necessarily attracted the appropriate approvals from the regulatory authorities, particularly the town and country planning department.“That has posed some challenge for us because we have been put in a position where you have to ask the town planner to deal with this very ticklish situation where the law prescribes what is to happen but the realities of life have dictated something us,” he said.He said these hiccups had resulted in a delay in relation to conveyancing .“We will not put the town planner in a position where he has to either compromise his integrity or indeed challenge the limits of the law. We also still to be mindful that we have to find a way in which legally we can ensure that those extensions be properly accounted for in the system, that those which are at a level where have been done properly and to certain standards, can attract approval.“Those which are not, we have to find a way to work with those residents. That has caused a delay in the conveyancing and the legal process, going forward.” (MK)