Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterTHE LATEST leg of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation's (KSAC) bid to rid the Corporate Area of illegitimate billboards has left some proprietors bewildered as they question what makes a sign illegal.
Among those lamenting is Burger King which had a sign that was affixed to the front of its building, removed on Sunday.
"I can't understand some of the actions (of the KSAC)... I am not going to go any further until I understand what is a billboard," said Lois Lake Sherwood, chairperson of Restaurant Associates Limited (holder of the Burger King franchise).
Mrs. Sherwood told The Gleaner that her company did not pay for the sign because it was not classified as a billboard. Michael Lake, a director of Restaurant Associates Ltd., said a letter was written to the KSAC, asking the Local Authority to explain the basis of its actions.
Natalie Dixon, store manager at Juici Patties on Harbour Street is also in a state of confusion. "We did not know that we had to pay for the ones attached to the building, but thought you had to pay for the ones that were protruding from the building," bemoaned Ms. Dixon.
Jennifer Swaby, manager for Lerner Shop on South Parade, also questioned the grounds on which her company's signs were removed.
"I would love to know why the signs were removed?" she said. She told The Gleaner that many proprietors situated on South Parade were disturbed at the actions of the KSAC.
However, Ms. Swaby said her company was willing to pay to have its sign returned because it was of paramount importance to the daily activities of the company. Ms. Dixon also expressed willingness to pay but not before she ascertains what are the rights of her company. Calls to the KSAC yesterday were not returned.
