Full Text | Company linked to PM denies breaching building law in apartment construction

Estatebridge Holdings Limited has rejected a report of the Integrity Commission that it breached the building law in the construction of an apartment complex in St Andrew.

In the report, which was tabled in Parliament today, the commission said the company, which is linked to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his business partner Norman Brown, build more rooms than permitted.

The commission's director of investigation Kevon Stephenson said the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation "failed" to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the building permit issued to Estatebridge.

Stephenson said the permit allowed for the construction of four 2 bedroom units at 2 Weycliffe Close, Beverly Hills, St Andrew. 

But following an inspection, he found four 4 bedroom townhouses.

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He said the finding was consistent with a report provided by Brown in December 2023.

But in a statement reacting, the company's directors said at no time did the KSAMC observe a breach in the room count during its inspections.

Variations in size of areas, and reconfiguration of layout, which normally

occur during construction and does not materially change the building footprint, were noted in the most recent inspection and the necessary application is in process, the directors stated.

“The principals are law abiding citizens who give yeoman service to Jamaica and will not be deterred by baseless allegations and bureaucratic overreach of an organisation that is not the competent authority.”

Full Text

The Directors of Estatebridge Holdings Limited categorically reject the finding of the Integrity Commission's report that the development in question consisted of 4 bedrooms instead of 2.

The development was the subject of several inspections by the KSAMC which is the competent authority in law to determine room count and compliance.

At no time did the KSAMC observe a breach in the room count. From the most recent inspection it was confirmed by the KSAMC that the units consisted of two bedrooms. Variations in size of areas, and reconfiguration of layout, which normally occur during construction and does not materially change the building footprint, were noted and the necessary application is in process. For context the development is still under construction.

At the time of both unannounced visits of the Integrity Commission, they observed significant work being done to correct plumbing and other issues which involved the digging of walls and slabs to identify and reroute pipes. No valid conclusion could be drawn regarding rooms without observing final structural walls and the installation of doors and other amenities.

Furthermore, we take note of the timing of the submission of this report to Parliament to coincide with Director Norman Brown's application for judicial review in the Supreme Court to challenge adverse comments and findings concerning himself and Estatebridge in another report of the Commission.

This as yet another attempt to damage the reputation of the principals of the company, relying on hearsay, misrepresentation of facts, and spurious conclusions.

The principals are law abiding citizens who give yeoman service to Jamaica and will not be deterred by baseless allegations and bureaucratic overreach of an organisation that is not the competent authority.