Ja: Money down the drain

THE KINGSTON and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) is losing up to $500 million annually due to uncollected revenue, according to Kingston's Mayor Desmond McKenzie.

According to the Mayor, if the KSAC were able to collect even a portion of the estimated losses, the Corporation's coffers would be boosted significantly.

"If we were able to collect even 40 per cent of the almost $500 million of revenue that we are losing annually, we could deal with 90 per cent of the problems the municipality faces in terms of roads, gullies, giving people proper sidewalks and providing the kind of sanitary conveniences we need as a city," Mr. McKenzie stressed.

He said the problem is further compounded "when you look at the blatant violations of building regulations, at the number of illegal billboards that are erected across our city, at the over 3,500 hairdressers and barbers within our capital city who are not complying with the law in terms of paying the necessary fees."

The KSAC has long acknowledged, albeit grudgingly, that many persons within the twin-parish municipality have not taken the time to inform themselves about the functions of the Local Government body. This, the Corporation admits, is chiefly responsible for many of the violations currently taking place. As a result, the KSAC, beginning this month, will be embarking on an aggressive public education campaign which it hopes will assist persons to better understand the functions of the municipal body.