If the new
Mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby carries through on half of the promises
he has made to residents of Westlake Avenue in Richmond Park, it
will not only be a breath of fresh air in that it would indicate that he is
serious about maintaining law and order at the municipality, but also a signal that he is not corrupt like many who
have preceded him there!
To jog your
memory, residents in that section of the beleaguered community of Richmond
Park, protested in late July, against a commercial operation which had
started construction of a site there, to establish a car dealership in their
community.
As a result
of the residents’ action, on the 31st July 2025, the KSAMC, issued a
stop order against the miscreant.
The commercialization
of residential areas, foremost in places such as Richmond Park, Eastwood Park
and Bedford Park, has been a long-standing problem for home owners in those
areas.
And regardless of who has led the KSAC, (by
any other name!) nothing has been done to stop the illegal practice so far.
It is not
that home owners in these areas are bad
minded or even anti-capitalist, but the irrefutable fact is that commercial activity
in residential areas, causes the property value to depreciate.
It also causes
great discomfort for the home owners as it destroys the roads and leads to increases the
incidence of crime. For the roads in residential areas were never built sturdy
enough to withstand the ravages of commercial traffic and when businesses set
up in an area, it is impossible for even the most vigilant residents or even
community monitoring groups, to keep an eye on those coming in an out, hence
crime inevitably increases.
I am
speaking as one who had to live with that problem for decades despite the
numerous complaints to KSAC, demonstrations etc. For as the first operator to
destroy our area said when we told him he would have to cease and desist, “money
talk”.
And because
money talks and corruption has always been rampant at KSAC, not only has that
business prospered untouched for many decades, but also, others seeing that
they could get away with it, also moved in until we were totally overwhelmed.
At Bedford Park,
added to the problem that corruption enabled, (and most likely sections of
Eastwood Park and Richmond Park as well), there was also the political element.
For lo and behold, one of the main law breakers was a close friend of one of our
prime minister’s, who was a frequent visitor to parties at his premises.
So, the destruction
of our once quiet residential area, escalated.
I am
therefore watching with interest to see if Mayor Andrew Swaby will just
be another political blower of hot air, or if the laws will finally be
enforced by the KSAMC, so the residents of Westlake Avenue and other residential areas can finally achieve their rights to the peaceful enjoyment of their homes.
Only time will
tell if its only bribes that can drive action's at the KSAMC or if under Andrew Swaby, it will be the laws that do.
