At least one Water Street Vendor has moved to the Court and is suing the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over its decision to relocate him.

The action is between vendor, Peter Warner and is directly addressed to Town Clerk Royston King.

Though one vendor is named as the Plaintiff, many other persons who sell at the same place are expected to also receive protection by the injunction.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall is among several Attorneys representing the vendor. In the application to the Courts, Warner claims that the land being occupied by him is a portion of private property situate at the former Guyana Stores Bond, Water Street, Georgetown and is owned and controlled by either the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited or Mr. Malcom Panday.

He claims that the use of the land for the purpose of trading and vending is lawful and duly authorized by the owners.

“A Declaration that the a decision of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown made and contained in notice dated the 3rd May, 2016 and signed by the Town Clerk of Georgetown, to remove the Plaintiff who is trading and vending on private property is illegal, unlawful and in breach of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01,” the application claims.

Warner is suing the City Council for damages in excess of $100,000 for unlawful interference with the Plaintiff’s property. Damages in excess of $100,000 against the Defendant for an intended trespass against the Plaintiff’s property are also being sought.

“An injunction restraining the Defendant, whether by himself or the officers, servants and/or agents the Mayor and City Council of the City of Georgetown from removing, destroying, damaging and/or interfering in any manner whatsoever with the Plaintiff’s stall number , goods and merchandise situate at former Guyana Stores Bond, Water Street, Georgetown.

The Writ was issued by Nandlall and at least two other Attorneys.

Warner said he has been a clothes vendor for the past 15 years and has been occupying and conducting business at the stall situate at the former Guyana Stores Bond, Water Street, with the permission, authorization and license of Mr. Malcolm Panday. Beginning last Sunday, the M&CC conducted a massive clean up exercise of several popular vending locations around the city. Scores of vendors are to be relocated to facilitate the exercise.

The relocation of the vendors is expected to be finalized by the end of this week.

The Town Clerk is expected to respond to the court action within the next week.