Golding: Torrington Park Staircase Collapse was Avoidable

Image: Loop News Jamaica

Opposition leader, Mark Golding, says the staircase collapse in a residential building in Torrington Park in his South St Andrew constituency on Sunday, could have been avoided.

The incident has left one resident injured and has rendered those from 16 apartments unable to access their homes.

Golding says he has been drawing attention to the deteriorating state of the building since 2018.

He claims he has repeatedly reached out to key officials, including then Permanent Secretary Audrey Sewell, former Minister of Housing Pearnel Charles in 2021, and even Prime Minister Andrew Holness in both 2022 and 2023.

He says that for nearly five years, there has been no effective action taken to ensure the necessary repairs were done.

Golding describes this as a shameful disregard for the lives of the residents of Torrington Park.

He is calling on the government to implement a comprehensive plan to repair and rehabilitate these government-owned residential high-rise buildings in Torrington Park, and similar buildings across the country.