The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) yesterday apologised to Pastor Urilene Springer and her husband Clyde, as well as the principals of the Baptist Church in St Simons, St Andrew for including their properties on the list of derelict structures earmarked for demolition.
A day after this newspaper highlighted the Springers’ complaint that their “beautiful and well maintained home” was listed in the EPD’s public listing last week, the department admitted that it was an error.
“The Environmental Protection Departments take this opportunity to extend an apology to Mr and Mrs Clyde Springer and the principals of the Baptist Church in St Simons, St Andrew, for the inclusion of their properties in the publication of structures for demolition under the derelict programme, as reported in the March 4 edition of The Nation Newspaper. It has been determined that the inclusion of these properties was caused by data entry error. The Department is therefore working with the Lands and Survey Department to incorporate the Barbados Building Identification Number into the process to reduce future incidents of data entry error,” EPD said in a statement.
Conditions
The EPD explained that the activities of the derelict programme were executed by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 (a) of the Health Services Act Cap 44, to control potential breeding sites for rodents and harborage for disease carrying vectors like the Aedes aegypti mosquito.”
It added that this work was conducted on behalf of the Chief Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Wellness and the aim of the programme was to reduce infections from disease-carrying vectors and improved the aesthetics of communities.
The EPD further noted that a building was deemed to be derelict if it meets one or more of the following conditions and is likely to cause a nuisance: a. unoccupied; b. collapsed ceiling; c. corroded galvanize roof; d.debris; e. harbouring undesirables; f. litter; g. missing doors; h rodents; i. structural cracks ring beams; j. structural cracks vertical walls; k. termite infested rafters; l. termite infested support member.
The EPD explained that under the programme, environmental inspectors and officers visited communities and conducted investigations. Once a building is deemed to be derelict, a notice is served to the listed landowner. This notice gives the land-owner the opportunity to rectify the issues related to the building within a specified time period.
If no action is taken to rectify the issues, EPD then proceeds to issue a tender notice for the demolition of the building. Landowners are invited to contact the department at 535-4600 if there are concerns or issues with buildings that are published. It should be emphasised that the department does not demolish buildings that are in good condition or legally occupied.
“The department regrets any inconvenience this error may have caused and wishes to assure the affected persons that the notices shall be withdrawn.” (MB)
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