Pyramid Point residents launch petition for stricter housing standards
Published:Friday | May 17, 2024 | 12:08 AMRochelle Clayton/Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
A petition has been launched by frustrated residents of Pyramid Point in Ocho Rios, demanding that more stringent housing standards be put in place to protect lives and investments in Jamaica.
The petition on change.org called on authorities, including the municipal corporations, National Environment and Planning Agency, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica, National Water Commission, Real Estate Board, Architects Registration Board, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade, to “enforce stricter regulations on developers to safeguard the well-being of Jamaicans”.
“We demand transparency in every step of the building process, with thorough inspections conducted and results made public. An oversight body must be established to prevent corruption and ensure accountability, with staff rotation to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest.”
The online petition follows a Gleaner article published in March, where two residents shared frustration over the quality of their newly built homes in the luxury housing development.The women, who are both returning residents, paid approximately $55 million each for their homes, but were left flabbergasted when they discovered that mould was growing inside their homes.
The two women have since been served a cease-and-desist notice from Pyramid Homes Limited and its managing director, P. Brad Duksah, for “defamatory claims made by you in the public media, culminating in a defamatory article published of them on March 17, 2024, in The Sunday Gleaner headlined ‘Mouldy, smelly Pyramid Point’, based on your false and malicious reports”.
“In The Gleaner article, you went further to assert that the developer handed over the scheme to homeowners with an unsealed roof and an incomplete sewage system that is causing a stench. Later on, you blamed the stench on the fact that the sewage system was free flow.”
The document requested further that the homeowners cease from “any further public claims of dishonesty or faulty construction” against the developers of the luxury housing development.
However, other Pyramid Point residents and other Jamaicans have since joined in support of the two women to bring what they say is “well-needed attention” to the petition being circulated.
So far, 451 persons have signed the petition, with several detailing their reasons for supporting the cause.
- “I am a Jamaican first who wants to contribute to the economic growth of my country. I am a businessman who purchased a home at Pyramid Point. I was very excited about spending my money in Jamaica. Then the nightmare began after moving into my home. Mould, water coming through my electrical sockets, faulty toilet installation, etc... Jamaica is more important than one developer.”
- “Because we work very hard for our money and buy our dream house in Jamaica. And we got abused and ripped off by this builder. And it seems like there is no justice for foreigners here in Jamaica.”
- “The Government of Jamaica needs to take a closer look at what’s happening.”
- “I reside in a recently built community in Ocho Rios, merely a five-minute drive from Pyramid Point, a development still in progress. Unfortunately, our home has numerous issues. Purchasing a property in Jamaica seems unwise until government bodies commit to upholding the law.”
- “I am a homeowner in Jamaica, and I am very disappointed with the poor housing regulations with the developers, as well as the banks. There are so many Jamaicans living abroad interested in returning home but are scared due to the horror stories. It’s time that the Government do something about this.”
- “Developers should be held accountable for shabby building. Homeowners are always paying overpriced amounts for the homes; they should not have to pay for repairs that are due to no fault of their own.”
In the meantime, the petition argued that the implementation of stricter housing standards will not only protect those wanting to invest in Jamaica, but also the country’s brand.
“This is not just about protecting investments; it’s about protecting lives as well as Jamaica’s brand. Faulty construction causes defects to the homes. Once the homeowner closes on the homes, it is almost impossible for them to get redress, because all the avenues traversed have multiple roadblocks. This leaves homeowners frustrated and often defeated, and, for the most part, they have to find additional sums of money to remedy these defects on their own.”
The petitioners are also calling for amendments to the Access to Information Act (2002) in hopes that it will decrease the wait time for information to be made available.
“Homeowners should not have to wait 30 working days to access vital information needed to make informed decisions about their investments.”
“We urge our local governmental bodies to take immediate action to implement proper checks and balances throughout the construction process. It is essential to ensure that homebuyers receive quality homes that meet rigorous safety standards.”