The back-and-forth over the legality of the Kara Kara commercial toll in Linden is continuing, with Linden Town Clerk Lennox Gasper saying he cannot comply with a directive from the Town Council to reopen the toll station because of legal and administrative issues.

Earlier this week, the Linden Mayor and Town Council directed the immediate reopening of the Kara Kara Toll Station and the resumption of toll collection at the rates established under the existing gazetted by-laws.

The directive was issued in a letter from Linden Mayor Dominique Blair to Town Clerk Lennox Gasper on behalf of the Linden Town Council.

The move follows an order issued two weeks ago by Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand, directing the Linden Mayor and Town Council to immediately cease the imposition and collection of tolls or other charges at the Kara Kara Public Road.

However, according to the Mayor’s letter, the Council does not accept that the cessation of toll collection or the revocation of the Linden Town Council (Toll) By-Laws 2016 by the Minister as lawfully effected.

The Council maintains that the 2016 by-laws were properly made, approved and gazetted. It argues that no resolution has been passed by the Council to repeal or discontinue them, nor has the matter been brought before the Council for a decision.

“As such, the Council does not accept the unilateral revocation as lawfully effected and considers that the existing By-Laws remain the basis on which the toll should operate unless and until they are lawfully amended or repealed,” the Mayor said in his letter.

But in response to the Mayor’s letter, the Town Clerk said he is unable to implement the directive after examining the Council’s records.

“First, I have no record in the official minutes of a duly constituted Council meeting at which a resolution was considered and adopted directing the Town Clerk to reopen the Kara Kara Toll Station and recommence collection at the 2016 rates. Your letter describes the directive as having been issued pursuant to the ‘position and decision of the Linden Town Council’; however, no resolution, minute or other formal record evidencing such a decision accompanied the directive,” the Town Clerk said in response.

In addition, the Town Clerk said the legal position surrounding the 2016 toll by-laws has changed materially, noting that the Linden Town Council (Toll) By-Laws were made under the statutory by-law framework and that their continued validity is now disputed.

He noted that the Minister of Local Government issued an instrument dated September 1, 2026, revoking the 2016 by-laws.

According to the Town Clerk, whether that instrument was properly authorised or is otherwise open to legal challenge, is a matter for determination by the competent legal authorities.

The Linden Town Council has found itself in a financial crisis with the Government’s sudden move to shut down the toll operation.

Last week, President Irfaan Ali and a team met with the Town Council on the issue. In a joint statement following the meeting, it was stated that the Linden Mayor had offered to reduce the tolls by 50%.

Related posts:

Linden Town Council proposes 50% reduction in commercial tolls in talks with Government Manickchand revokes Linden Town Council By-laws that legalised toll collection from commercial vehicles Linden Mayor Cites Gazetted By-Laws for Toll Collection; Challenges Minister to Prove Repeal Government shuts down Linden Town Council’s collection of toll from commercial vehicles entering town