Mayor and City Council workers yesterday tearing down the dilapidated shed outside of Junior's. (Ken Moore photo)

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday began its drive to clear the city of derelict, abandoned buildings and builder's waste by removing a rotting wooden structure outside of Junior's Sports Bar on Middle and Camp streets.

The M&CC is giving owners of such buildings and structures a month's notice while those persons with unused material and other items on the council's reserve are being given 24 hours notice to get themselves in order.

Deputy City Engineer, Lloyd Alleyne said "a new Pharaoh who did not know Joshua's sons was in town and they were ready to now do what should have been done a long time ago." Derelict buildings and structures, he said, pose a risk to life and limb conceding "what should have been done before, Cricket World Cup has forced us to do now."

Owner of Junior's Sports Bar and Restaurant Hubert Joseph was on hand to witness the tearing down and said he had no problem with the move by the City administration. "The Council has been very professional and courteous. They contacted me and sent a letter with regard to their intended demolition as the structure was an eyesore."

He said he was in favour of the move "once I am allowed to put it back up."

Alleyne stated that in some cases owners of such buildings were already written to. He noted that persons were erecting pretty buildings next to old dilapidated ones that are an eyesore, are mostly overgrown with vines and encourage vagrants.