160 firms lack building permits

The Department of Public Works has stepped up efforts to hold routine inspections of small establishments on the island following the discovery of over 160 stores and restaurants operating without necessary building permits and certificate of occupancy.

During the last quarter of Fiscal Year 2000, DPW and the Bureau of Environmental Health strictly enforced the joint inspection provided under the DPW-DPH Memorandum of Agreement signed in July last year.

The MOU stipulates that stores and restaurants will not be issued health certificates if they are operating without the certificate of occupancy issued by the DPW Building Safety Code Division.

Following the implementation of the MOU, at least 109 small establishments were discovered to be operating without certificate of occupancy that the Public Works issue to inspected edifices.

In an interview yesterday, DPW Building Safety Official Donald W. Anderson disclosed that 52 establishments visited by the joint DPW-DPH team in January alone were proven to be in business but lack the necessary documents to render the establishments safe.

Owners of these businesses failed to apply for certificate of occupancy nor asked for DPW safety inspectors to check if the buildings are guaranteed in good condition.

From September to December last year, the team was able to hold a routine check-up of several establishments on Saipan where 159 were on business sans certificates and permits.

Mr. Anderson said since the MOU was signed, several stores were found to be operating without DPW’s certificates adding that many other stores in others areas are probably in the same category.

The official said business owners are likely to ignore the safety inspection not to escape fees but due to lack of knowledge that certificates are needed to make all establishments in compliance with the existing CNMI law.

Furthermore, most establishments undergoing renovations and repairs were usually done on weekends, carpenters tear down walls and roofing without the knowledge of the DPW.

“It is not the fees that we’re after, its the safety of the occupants and of the public that were looking after, they do not know that we have to inspect the building and issue them certificates,” Mr. Anderson said.

Certificates of Occupancy are issued only once to establishment owners and re-issuance is needed if renovations, expansions and repairs are made to the buildings. (EGA)