TALKBACK: Laws are meant to be followed

OBEY THE LAWS!

That was the advice given to Mark Williams (not the radio personality and former Member of Parliament) after his illegally constructed bar at Taitt Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael was demolished by employees from the Ministry of Transport and Works last Friday.

The owner said it cost $33 000 and was not the only illegal structure on the island, but senior town planner Rudy Headley said notice had been sent to Williams since May 2013.

Online readers shared their views:

Kareem Silverfoxx Simon: If you start wrong buddy you will end wrong. Now do the right thing and get your place back up and running.

Peggy Stoute Morin: It is always a good idea to follow established rules. If everyone took the attitude that they can do whatever they wanted, just throw up a building at will, the place would look like a shantytown.

Lil Pigeon: Mark did not deny he erected an illegal structure. Someone needs to tell Mark that because there are other illegal structures, it does not make his wrong right. We know we are not supposed to erect structures without permission, yet we do it and when the . . . hits the fan, we talk nonsense. I hope no one comes with the poor black man card.

Pierce Antonio Rudder: This is really sad. Why can’t we find humane ways of treating to these situations?

Omar Watson: Steupse! A man trying to make an honest dollar. That building wasn’t a threat to nothing. If that was somebody friend or family, that would have never happened.

John Herbert: Cannot be an honest dollar if he is breaking the law.

Denisha Applewhaite: I was starting to agree with him on the fact that he’s not the only one with illegal structures – if you target one you should do it for all – but then I read he was given notice since 2013!!

Ashantia Howard: Can’t be an honest dollar without an honest permit.

Keisha Gill: If you can spend $33 000 to erect a structure, wouldn’t it have been common sense to make sure that you did everything by the book to avoid losing all that money? People always trying to justify wrongdoings and then using the same old excuse that other people are doing the same thing.

Angela Heallis: This is not an easy thing. I’ve been so honest to go through the right channels and I’m still at square one. And I can tell you there are illegal houses that are built and nothing is being done about them.

Ryan Williams: Man he wrong, point blank. If we create laws and allow everyone to break them simply because they harm no one, then what is the point of creating and enforcing them?

Plug Man Plug Man: Mark, if you know lot of illegal ones out there, it shows you have the understanding to make yours legal. We have laws.