02/04/2025
Leadership Takes Swift Action on House Marking in the Community
It is true that leaders must endure a great deal from the people, but elders should not take serious matters lightly. Such actions from an elder are provocative. The title of "elder" carries with it a greater responsibility. The current issue concerning the marking of housing in our beloved community is both alarming and worrisome. However, rest assured that the situation is under control, as the leadership has engaged with the relevant authorities, who are working to provide a clearer picture.
At the same time, the practice of condemning one another within leadership must cease. If there are issues, we should address them in our leadership meetings, and some matters discussed among ourselves should remain private. As the saying goes, "Teeth and tongue may fight, but that doesn’t mean the tongue should jump out of the mouth."
Furthermore, we must remember that women are the "weaker vessel," and as such, we should always be polite and respectful when engaging with female leaders. Elder Brown, please take it easy with our Chairperson—she was voted in by the majority of the population.
To address this matter and provide clarity to our beloved citizens, here is an account from Mr. Edmond K.P. Lloyd, the Zoning Director at the Ministry of Public Works. He began by explaining the zoning laws and the standards set by the Ministry. Mr. Lloyd emphasized that there are "right-of-ways" for different corridors. For properties near rivers, there are designated areas where construction can occur, and similarly, there are set distances for properties near road corridors. These "right-of-ways" are designated for future expansion, allowing the government to improve public facilities when necessary.
Mr. Lloyd also revealed that the government is planning a waterfront development project within the Slipway Community, extending toward the King Zolu Duma Bridge. The goal is to transform this area into a beautiful waterfront development where parts near the river will be developed to encourage leisure activities and enhance the city’s aesthetics. This is part of the broader government development plan.
He further clarified that, by law, any property built near a waterway must be at least 150 feet away from the designated right-of-way. This means that construction cannot occur within 150 feet of the water. The government retains a 150-foot unhindered access to the water, and this distance does not have to follow a straight line.
However, he acknowledged that, in the case of the Slipway area, many people have built properties very close to the water. Mr. Lloyd noted that people have lived in the area for hundreds of years, and many have inherited properties from their ancestors. In the past, there was little political will or support for urban planning, particularly in areas near the water. Now, with the government’s plans to develop these areas, it is important to recognize that building close to the water, even 50 years ago, was still a violation of zoning laws. Although some properties have existed for decades, the government’s development plans do not change the fact that construction in these areas was, and still is, illegal.
Mr. Lloyd went on to explain that, during the recent marking of the area, the team measured only 75 feet from the water instead of the required 150 feet. This decision was made to reduce the project's impact. Preliminary studies were conducted to assess available land before finalizing the project.
Additionally, Mr. Lloyd stated that the 150-foot distance from the water is a government-owned right-of-way and does not belong to any individual. However, if individuals have claims or deeds for the land, the government is open to reviewing those claims and determining their legitimacy.
While the government’s goal is to beautify the city and improve the waterfront, this development is also seen as a collaborative effort. Even after the development, the community will still benefit from the area. He acknowledged that the initial engagement with the community may not have been well-coordinated and that there were aspects of the project that the community wasn’t initially informed about. As a result, he decided to organize meetings to provide more clarity and address concerns. The first meeting will be held at the Ministry of Public Works.
Mr. Lloyd concluded by stating that the current work is focused on the 75-foot zone, but a further inventory of the land will be conducted to determine the exact boundaries. Once this is completed, the city government will decide on the next steps for the area.
The Director openly apologized to the community leadership and promised to visit the community to provide clarity in a mass meeting.
This transcript is based on a 24-minute, 17-second video. Since the recording is long, I was only able to transcribe the key points. If we have time, I can play the entire video during the Town Hall meeting so everyone can hear it for themselves and analyze the details further.
— Emmanuel B. Juduh, Youth Chairman
