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Abandoned building in St. Johns (photo by Shermain Bique-Charles)
In the recent meeting with the Cabinet, the Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) and a Tax Enforcement Officer highlighted a pressing issue affecting the commercial sector of St. John’s City: the growing number of abandoned buildings.
Presenting evidence in the form of photographs, the officials identified over 20 unoccupied properties concentrated along Vivian Richards Street, Market Street, Newgate Street, and Independence Avenue.
The IRD reported that these abandoned buildings account for more than $1 million in unpaid property taxes. Beyond the financial implications, these structures have become significant health and safety hazards. With reports of rodents and litter, the community is increasingly concerned about the negative impact these sites have on the surrounding area.
To tackle this situation, the Legislature has recently enacted a new law enabling the government to act decisively. The law allows for the court to grant permission to the government, following notice to the last-known owners, to address the hazards posed by these derelict properties. If owners do not comply, the government can forcibly acquire the buildings. This move will not only help remove the unsightly and unsafe conditions but also ensure proper sanitation in the city.
The initiative aims to clean up the commercial district, returning these properties to a state that benefits the community. Once the government disposes of the properties, any financial surplus will be returned to the recorded owners.
Now that’s how you clean up St. Johns and make Antigua beautiful. Keep up the good work!!!
Who does these buildings belong to anyway?. Can the government take them over even if they belong to someone? Really and truly these buildings are a sore eye and they either needs to be rebuilt of broken down altogether. Rather have an empty lot than this horrified-looking structure in St Johns
These are the home of the vagrants. How dare you destroy it.
They really need to do something about that cause it out of hand
Time enough the government do something about the eyesores that kill St. John’s. And let’s not just keep our focus on old buildings. Let’s really and truly beautify the city
While these buildings are very untidy n unhealthy, I feel like it adds to tourist attraction. I’ve seen many tourist smiling n taking pictures of the run down buildings