After years of trying to remove vendors from the surroundings of the popular DEMICO House Building at the Stabroek Square, Banks DIH Limited is now contemplating a move to the Courts to have the problem addressed.
While addressing shareholders on Saturday at the company’s Annual General Meeting, Chairman and Managing Director of Banks DIH, Clifford Reis, explained that the company has been losing revenue at the Stabroek location over the increase in vendors directly outside the doors to the business.
He said with little help from the Georgetown City Council, the company has been forced to call in its Attorneys and examine a move to the Courts.
“Banks DIH has no alternative now, my fellow shareholders, and we are contemplating now taking legal actions in the court to alleviate this problem just like what Muneshwer’s company has done. The company is losing finance at DEMICO House, the whole area is being abused and we just can’t continue to run a business under those conditions,” the Managing Director said.
Reis said for years, the company has been confronting the issue on its own for many years, and despite numerous attempts to have it resolved at the level of the City Council, the problem remains a sore issue with vendors preventing the smooth flow of customers in and out of the business place, which houses a restaurant, a sports bar, a hotel and a beverage depot.
“We sent letters to the Town Clerk, the City Council, the Deputy Commissioner, the Commander of the Regional Division A to notify these authorities about these activities and requested their intervention in getting the said activities to cease but to no avail, nothing has happened,” Reis said.
Mr. Reis said through its Attorneys, a letter was sent to the Georgetown City Council on the issue. In response, the Deputy Mayor and Officers from the Market Committee and the Public Health Department visited DEMICO House to assess the situation, but nothing else has been done since that visit.
“After the visit, they stated that they would implement a long-term strategy involving a policy to relocate vendors, and a short-term approach plan, which is to clear the walls of the building and the entrances. My fellow shareholders, the number of clients going into our restaurants of Demico House has decreased. We can’t even get into the IDIHO building now. The restrooms and the toilets are being abused,” he said.
The Banks DIH Chairman said though the plan was initiated by the Council, the results have not been successful, forcing the company’s decision to look at the Courts.
Last year, the High Court ordered the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to remove all vendors, and encumbrances from the pavement and streets around Muneshwers’ Building in Water Street, marking a significant win for the company.
Since that ruling, a number of other companies and businesses have approached the City Council seeking the removal of vendors from around their premises, while also threatening legal action against the municipality. (Svetlana Marshall)
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