MoBay to be zoned to promote good order, unauthorised rearing of farm animals off limit
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:37 AM
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon says the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), which he serves as chairman, plans to petition the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development to have some sections of the city declared off limits for the rearing of animals.
Speaking at Thursday’s inaugural city hall meeting, in Montego Bay, which looked at issues relating to the city’s boundaries, Vernon spoke about the numerous complaints the StJMC has been getting since 2023 about the unsanctioned rearing of animals in the city.
“The StJMC will recommend to the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, after this consultation, that Montego Bay and some other specified areas be declared a restricted and prohibited area pursuant to Section 3.1A and B of the Keeping of Animals Act of 1979. In the past two years, approximately 100 complaints have been lodged to the St James Health Services’ Environmental Health Unit, and over 30 cases of hazards associated with stray animals were reported to the StJMC within the past year,” said Vernon.
“While this approach can provide solutions to extensive reports of goat rearing in Bogue Village, cow raising in Rosevale and Rhyne Park, and many reports of pig sties situated in the business district and in several communities within the proposed limits, there will also be enforcement nuances associated with reported crab farming in the Catherine Hall community, and chicken farming in Farm Heights, Mt Salem, and several other residential zoned areas,” added Vernon.
According to Vernon, the StJMC will require anyone who wants to keep certain categories of animals within the Montego Bay space to seek permission from the corporation.
“Those who desire to keep animals within this area will have to apply to the municipal corporation for a licence, which will be granted once the space to keep the animal is adequate, the necessary amenities are in place, and no health hazard or nuisance will arise from the designated space. We are not saying you cannot farm, but farming practices cannot be at the expense of good order, peace, safety, a healthy environment, and tranquillity within our community,” said Vernon.
The mayor’s announcement follows a previous observation he made in December 2024, that legislative hurdles have hindered the ability of western Jamaica’s municipal corporations to establish and operate a centralised pound for stray animals.
NO OFFICIAL RECORD
On the matter of Montego Bay’s proposed boundaries, Vernon said there has been no official record of boundaries for the city since the area was founded in 1494. Montego Bay officially gained city status in 1982.
“There is no record of a gazetted boundary of the city, and consequently, no proper uniformity exists in city data, which poses significant challenges for urban planning, city management and profiling,” said Vernon, who noted that, under the guidance of the National Environment and Planning, borders have been decided.
The proposed boundaries for Montego Bay will extend from Reading, Bogue and Pitfour in the south to Ironshore in the northeast, and will include Norwood, Salt Spring, Green Pond, and Porto Bello on the eastern side, Granville and Westgate Hills to the southeast, the Montego Bay business district to the west, and Flankers to the north.
“The StJMC proposes the aforementioned boundary of the city limits for adequate profiling of population demographics, economic development, infrastructure management, enhanced service delivery, transportation planning, housing and urban development, environmental sustainability, and safety and security,” said Vernon.