Speedier approval of projects promised

Seymour Mullings

EFFORTS BY the Government to rationalise and modernise the approvals process for development applications have borne significant results, according to Seymour Mullings, Minister of Land and Environment.

He told the recent half yearly meeting of the Jamaica Developers Asso-ciation at the Devonshire Restaurant in Kingston that while the approval process was a major concern among developers there had been significant improvements in processing and approval of applications since the implementation of the Develop-ment Approvals Project two years ago.

The objective of the Development Approval Project is to reduce the time taken to process and approve applications by related Government agencies to no more than 90 days.

"Through the recently established monitoring system, the achievements of Govern-ment in this area can now be measured effectively," Minister Mullings said.

To date, the project has lead to improvements in the number of applications processed over the last two years by the two principal agencies involved in the development approval process, he noted. These agencies are the Ministry of Transport and Works which processed 1,867 applications in 1999 compared to 776 in 1998 and the Town Planning Department which saw an increase in the number of applications processed from 637 in 1998 to 1,227 in 1999.

"Capacity and training are also integral to the efficient implementation of the Development Approvals Project. Since the commencement of the Project the Ministry has conducted workshops and seminars to improve the attitude of Government employees towards the public with an emphasis on sensitising them about the implications of delays as it relates to planning and development matters," the Minister said.

The Minister announced that improvements to the 90-day approval process during this year would include the finalisation of a development manual. This manual would include "starter standards" that is, the minimum allowable planning, infrastructure and utilities standards for any development.

"Programmes such as Operation PRIDE, Food for the Poor and other initiatives intended for low-income earners will utilise the "starter standards." These starter standards are of great significance to the extent that Jamaica has received international recognition from HABITAT - the United Nations Centre for Human Settlement, for the development of these standards," he said.

Minister Mullings also announced the implementation of a modern Building Act for Jamaica by the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government Youth and Community Development and other stakeholders. The Building Act, he said, would allow the local authorities to do spot-checking for approval of building designs done by registered professionals.

Monitoring of building construction would also be done more efficiently through an agreed process by the relevant registered professionals, he added.

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