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Squalor! State-owned houses in serious state of disrepair
published: Thursday | October 4, 2007
Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
The stained carpeting that remained up to last week in the upscale St. Andrew home of a former minister in the People's National Party government.
Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter
Several State-owned houses reserved for public officials are in a serious state of disrepair, and might end up costing the Government millions of dollars to restore before they can be made habitable again.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands was unable to say how much it will cost to repair the houses that fall within its portfolio.
Cost of repairs
"Estimates are now being prepared for repairs to be carried out," read a response from the ministry.
"The Government will stand the cost of repairs, which are mainly of a structural nature, and refurbishing works due to the age of the houses. Estimates are not available at this time."
As is, some of the houses are uninhabitable. On a visit to one of the properties located in an upscale St. Andrew residential area, our news team saw dead maggots in an upstairs bathroom. The whiff from whatever caused the maggots was not welcoming.
The ministry told The Gleaner that the sizeable property was left vacant by a former minister under the Portia Simpson Miller-led administration.
The ministry also revealed that the former minister left the premises in September 2007. However, our visit on September 26 found the place in a mess. The grass on the property is more than knee-high in some sections, plus a toilet, which did not look new, and boxes with documents were left in the garage.
Further investigations by our news team showed that another state-owned house in one of the most upscale St. Andrew neighbourhoods was also left in a less-than desirable state. The former minister moved out of the house last month. This house, however, is not owned by the ministry, but by a government company.
At the time of the visit, the water in the swimming pool was green and the carpet in the lobby was filled with what appeared to be stains. Additionally, the fence was broken down.
Deplorable condition
Sources close to the property told The Gleaner that the fence has been in that state for a while. The lawn was unkempt, an outside bathroom was in a deplorable condition, while the power cable for the air-conditioning unit had moss growing on it.
However, the former minister who occupied the house for years told The Gleaner that while he would admit that the lawn 'probably' needed cutting, he thinks the house was left in a manner that is "in keeping with a house that has been lived in over that period of time with normal maintenance".
He also admitted that the house needed painting and the carpets needed to be changed, but said that was not his responsibility.
As for the discoloured water in the pool, the minister said that was not his fault.
"I never left a green pool up there, it was a lovely blue."
The Gleaner's visit to another Kingston 6 residence, which has been vacant for over a year, told another chilling tale. "It was recognised that it needed major repairs and refurbishing of the interior. It was used in the interim for storage purposes pending repairs. Some damage to the structure occurred during Hurricane Dean," read a response from the ministry.
The ministry told The Gleaner that the tenants are required to keep the premises in good order. However, the National Land Agency, which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, is responsible for all major and structural repairs to the properties.
Despite what appears to be evidence of neglect, the ministry said it would not be penalising the former residents.
"The former occupants will not be held accountable (for poor conditions) because the repairs are of a structural nature and refurbishing works need to be undertaken due to the age of the properties."
In addition to the ones visited by The Gleaner, the ministry revealed that there were other houses under its portfolio that needed refurbishing.
tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com
published: Thursday | October 4, 2007
Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
The stained carpeting that remained up to last week in the upscale St. Andrew home of a former minister in the People's National Party government.
Tyrone Reid, Enterprise Reporter
Several State-owned houses reserved for public officials are in a serious state of disrepair, and might end up costing the Government millions of dollars to restore before they can be made habitable again.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands was unable to say how much it will cost to repair the houses that fall within its portfolio.
Cost of repairs
"Estimates are now being prepared for repairs to be carried out," read a response from the ministry.
"The Government will stand the cost of repairs, which are mainly of a structural nature, and refurbishing works due to the age of the houses. Estimates are not available at this time."
As is, some of the houses are uninhabitable. On a visit to one of the properties located in an upscale St. Andrew residential area, our news team saw dead maggots in an upstairs bathroom. The whiff from whatever caused the maggots was not welcoming.
The ministry told The Gleaner that the sizeable property was left vacant by a former minister under the Portia Simpson Miller-led administration.
The ministry also revealed that the former minister left the premises in September 2007. However, our visit on September 26 found the place in a mess. The grass on the property is more than knee-high in some sections, plus a toilet, which did not look new, and boxes with documents were left in the garage.
Further investigations by our news team showed that another state-owned house in one of the most upscale St. Andrew neighbourhoods was also left in a less-than desirable state. The former minister moved out of the house last month. This house, however, is not owned by the ministry, but by a government company.
At the time of the visit, the water in the swimming pool was green and the carpet in the lobby was filled with what appeared to be stains. Additionally, the fence was broken down.
Deplorable condition
Sources close to the property told The Gleaner that the fence has been in that state for a while. The lawn was unkempt, an outside bathroom was in a deplorable condition, while the power cable for the air-conditioning unit had moss growing on it.
However, the former minister who occupied the house for years told The Gleaner that while he would admit that the lawn 'probably' needed cutting, he thinks the house was left in a manner that is "in keeping with a house that has been lived in over that period of time with normal maintenance".
He also admitted that the house needed painting and the carpets needed to be changed, but said that was not his responsibility.
As for the discoloured water in the pool, the minister said that was not his fault.
"I never left a green pool up there, it was a lovely blue."
The Gleaner's visit to another Kingston 6 residence, which has been vacant for over a year, told another chilling tale. "It was recognised that it needed major repairs and refurbishing of the interior. It was used in the interim for storage purposes pending repairs. Some damage to the structure occurred during Hurricane Dean," read a response from the ministry.
The ministry told The Gleaner that the tenants are required to keep the premises in good order. However, the National Land Agency, which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, is responsible for all major and structural repairs to the properties.
Despite what appears to be evidence of neglect, the ministry said it would not be penalising the former residents.
"The former occupants will not be held accountable (for poor conditions) because the repairs are of a structural nature and refurbishing works need to be undertaken due to the age of the properties."
In addition to the ones visited by The Gleaner, the ministry revealed that there were other houses under its portfolio that needed refurbishing.
tyrone.reid@gleanerjm.com
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