‘RICH PEOPLE WAR’
Contractor defends work as Tavistock residents raise stink over sewer pipes
Published:Friday | July 5, 2024 | 12:10 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
A sewer pipe being laid for The Spyglass, a luxurious apartment and townhouse complex in Jacks Hill, is at the centre of a fresh quarrel between residents and a contractor in the upper St Andrew community.
The Spyglass, which sits on just over five acres of land, is a multimillion-dollar joint venture between Daryl Vaz, the minister of science, energy, telecommunications and transport, and St Ann businessman Arthur Von Strolley of AVS Builders Limited. AVS Builders is the company behind the multistorey development.
Residents are peeved that more than three-quarters of Tavistock Terrace was dug up to create the sewer line, which extends to Millsborough Avenue in the community.
Eleanor Jones, a resident of Jacks Hill, has insisted that there should be no more approvals for development in the area, which overlooks Kingston city. She called them an inconvenience to residents and fraught with poor decision-making.
“This Tavistock situation is a debacle and a sad commentary on how we manage the use and development of our land. Here is an area that is highly vulnerable ... ,” Jones said.
Work began in December along the stretch of road, a supervisor on site told The Gleaner, and is expected to be completed in two weeks.
The man, who insisted that the complaints formed part of a bigger fight among “rich people”, declined to give his name or company name when pressed by The Gleaner on Thursday.
He said the metres-long ditch was covered ahead of Hurricane Beryl, which lashed the island on Wednesday, devastating central and southern Jamaica, including the parishes of Manchester and St Elizabeth.
The rainfall eroded the soil that was used to temporarily fill the ditch, sending volumes of water down the terrace.
Retired medical doctor Errol Williamson labelled it a “catastrophe”, stating that the residents’ full access to the road had been cut off.
“I’m just wondering what it is going to take to stabilise Tavistock Terrace. It’s the whole hillside that has now become unstable,” he asserted.
Another resident cursed the ongoing work, arguing that it has devalued his property, preventing him from selling.
“My property value has dropped deeper than this ditch that they have dug. If I want to sell my property for $50,000, I can’t. I will have to sell it for $25,000 because of this foolishness that they are doing,” the man, who was attempting to drive by, said from his vehicle.
Similarly, another resident, who had to park his car and walk to his destination on Millsborough Avenue, said unsuspecting motorists are at risk of falling into the ditch, which was again being filled with soil when The Gleaner visited.
The man called the move senseless, noting that it was only a matter of time before expected showers eroded it.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica has warned of a tropical wave that may soon impact the island.
But the supervisor hit back, calling the residents “bitter”.
He said the sewer will not only benefit The Spyglass, but the entire community when completed.
Further, he said, the plan is to pave the road once the sewer project is completed.
“Our contract states that we must also do road rehabilitation, and that’s what we are going to do. Would you rather spend two times or once?
“Bitterly as these people complain, this project will let the price of houses increase. So there’s a benefit from this that they won’t talk about. The road doesn’t have any infrastructure and we’re putting in,” he said.
Added to that, he said The Spyglass adhered to all construction regulations and received the requisite approvals for the sewer line.
“These people have personal problems and are trying to control up here. It’s a rich people war,” he said.