Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
A NUMBER of Corporate Area-based proprietors say they will resort to filing lawsuits, if necessary, to recover millions they have lost in the demolition of signs and billboards by the National Works Agency (NWA).
John Azar, managing director of King Alarms, said yesterday that his firm has lost approximately 40 signs at a cost in excess of $750,000, warning that nothing short of compensation would suffice.
"We have instructed our lawyers to first find out where are our signs and under whose authority were they removed, and based on their (NWA) reply, if it is not satisfactory, we intend to sue them for the cost of the signs and the damage incurred," said Mr. Azar.
Mr. Azar added that the NWA's campaign has not only injured his company's investment in the signs, but has also sullied its reputation as an above-board organisation. "We have been grouped with people who put up signs illegally to deface the city," he said.
DAMAGE WORTH $270,000
Joseph Francis, managing director of the Balmoral Avenue-based Technology Plus Company Limited, agreed. His company, he said, will also be seeking legal remedies to get restitution for six signs that were destroyed by the NWA. The signs, Mr. Francis said, were valued at approximately $270,000.
Mr. Francis said a visit to where his signs were demolished was a rather painful experience.
"They were scarred, torn and mutilated so we did not retrieve them because of the condition they were in. We can't reinstall them and they cannot be repaired (so) we decided to leave them as evidence," explained Mr. Francis.
The Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) and the NWA have been involved in a war of words since the latter's decision to remove several outdoor advertising signs, which had the approval of the KSAC. The businessmen say they have paid the KSAC a substantial amount of money to have their signs erected.
In late March, Mayor Desmond McKenzie threatened to take the NWA to court, describing the agency's actions as "unlawful".
"They are taking down signs illegally... they don't have authority to do that," an angry McKenzie told The Gleaner in March.
NWA PORTFOLIO
However, Colin Morrison, communications officer at the NWA, is adamant that the island's major thoroughfares fall under the purview of his executive agency. "Main roads in Jamaica are the responsibility of the NWA... there are 5,000 kilometres of main roads in Jamaica that we are responsible for," Mr. Morrison told The Gleaner yesterday.
"Why is it when residents from the Corporate Area call them (KSAC) about potholes and drainage problems... they direct them to the NWA. Why don't they (KSAC) take responsibility for them then?" Mr. Morrison asked.
Mr. Morrison said he knew nothing of the NWA being on a campaign to remove and destroy signs, noting that he had heard the allegations and would be looking into the matter.
The verbal squabble between the two agencies has, however, left the businessmen confused.
"The paradox of this whole matter is that we have two government bodies and they can't decide what is illegal," said Ricky Mahfood, managing director of Hawkeye Electronic Security Limited, that has reportedly lost approximately 15 signs worth $15,000 a piece at the hands of the NWA.
