KSAMC Cracks Down on Illegal Billboards, explores regularisation

Illegally built billboards are once again in the sights of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, which has undertaken a comprehensive audit and is now ordering firms to come in and get their displays regularised or risk prosecution.

This comes in the wake of an ongoing audit by City Inspector Alrick Francis and his team, who, since Monday, have been canvassing the Corporate Area for breaches.

"We are currently conducting an audit on signs and billboards across the municipality of Kingston and At Andrew. This is to determine that those signs that have been approved by us are following the terms and conditions of approval," said Francis.

"It is to determine those signs that have been placed illegally. So far, it has been revealed that the majority of the signs erected across the municipality have not gotten the approval of the corporation. Some have not even sought to get approval from us," he said.

"I am appealing to all business operations, as the audit extends to businesses operating in malls, plazas, the bars, etc. It is an appeal for persons to come in and formalise all of these billboards that have been erected," he said. The audit covered Hagley Park, Eastwood Park roads, as well as Washington Boulevard and sections of Half-Way-Tree.

The issues of illegally mounted signs, and delinquent advertisers have been a long-standing one, and media houses and car marts were among the latest groups to be identified as delinquents, according to the KSAMC.

In October, the KSAMC said it was prepared to make public the name of advertising companies that owe the municipality millions for billboard advertisements across the municipality. This was after meetings for them to make good on their obligations, Mayor Andrew Swaby told the monthly meeting of the KSAMC.

Some entities have responded favourably, the mayor said, while others remain delinquent. "Subsequently, I have asked the CEO and the inside counsel to write to these companies, outlining to them the impending course of action if outstanding fees are not paid," said Swaby, who is expected to again address the matter in a KSAMC meeting next week.

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