Keith Hinds - File

Six years after citizens of Portmore, St Catherine, selected their first mayor, the municipality is still bedevilled by challenges.

Mayor Keith Hinds has expressed concerns about the development of the area, which is crippled by the lack of commitment from the residents.

Hinds said approximately 61 per cent of the persons on the tax roll of Portmore are not paying land taxes, causing a revenue shortage which is stifling community development.

"Once you don't pay the property taxes, you are becoming a burden on the Government and it doesn't have much money to offer," he said.

The mayor argued that the municipality usually benefits from a budget of approximately $75 million per year from central government, but sometimes it only receives part of that sum.

He said the amount received is never enough to maintain the services in the communities and pledged to beef up on efforts to get residents involved.

Among the activities to be funded through the limited funds are the maintenance of verges, payment for garbage collection and, with the number of vehicles that traverse the region daily, there is need for regular road maintenance.

One critical challenge that has posed a problem over the years is the cleaning of drains, which continue to be the main breeding ground for mosquitoes in the area. This project has been lagging behind due to the unavailability of funds. Hinds said work has started on the drains but it would not be completed, as it would cost $100 million.

Building breaches are also a major concern in the area.

"I am willing to accommodate persons with house-development breaches to visit the office with their plans and make arrangements for payment so as to engage the persons but not to burden them with the payment," Hinds stated.

Painful exercise

The mayor has already started to rid the area of violations as he is in the process of closing businesses that are operating in contravention of the regulations.

"Several businesses have been closed and it's a painful exercise because of the economic crises, but not every breach ought to be accommodated," he said.

In an effort to rid the community of breaches, Hinds said there would be a sensitisation drive in which town-hall meetings would be held across the 68 communities of Portmore. This initiative will kick off later this month and end in August.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com