More than two weeks after the High Court granted orders to remove vendors and their structures from outside Banks DIH’s Demico House, Stabroek, Georgetown, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC) on Sunday initiated the process.
The court orders, granted by Justice Navindra Singh earlier this month, came in response to an application filed by Banks DIH Limited, the parent company of Demico House. Attorney Reon Miller of the Boston and Boston Law firm represented Banks DIH Limited in seeking these orders.
The orders directed senior City Council officials to clear the pavement and surroundings outside the popular restaurant of vendors and their stands, structures, and belongings.
Specifically, they were mandated the remove carts, drays, barrels, boxes, dustbins, tents, palettes, coolers, mobile stalls, and any other movable items obstructing the property.
The M&CC removing vendors from around Demico House
Both the Town Clerk and the City Engineer, named as respondents, were present at the hearing but did not contest the orders.
City Mayor Alfred Mentore acknowledged the challenge and stated that the Council had to comply with the court’s decision. He expressed the Council’s long-standing intention to devise a comprehensive plan to address the vending situation permanently rather than resorting to temporary fixes.
Despite the court order, many vendors remained defiant, arguing that they had nowhere else to go and demanded a meeting with the Georgetown City Council to explore alternative locations for their businesses.
However, during the removal process at Demico Stabroek on Sunday, vendors voiced their frustration, emphasising that removing them, has disrupted their lives and that of the families they have to provide for.
One vendor related, “Where are we supposed to go? This is how we feed our families; this is how we make our daily bread. This is very hard, and will be very hard for some of us”.
Another vendor vented, “While we know it’s their establishment, at least have some pity for innocent ones like me who just want to sell to feed their family. I am a single parent and I have to do it all alone. I don’t know what is my next step right now, and what to do. I want to know the city council will put us”.
Another vendor insisted that he will continue to vend even if it means that he has to go out with one case of drinks like before. “I will continue to vend… is like when I first started, I use to sell one case drinks at a time…”
He nevertheless stated that, Banks DIH has a right to approach the court to remove the vendors stating that it is an unpleasant site when his colleagues continue to dispose of garbage in front of the private property.
He added that while vending is illegal, the Georgetown Mayor and City Council should meet with the aggrieved vendors to have a more structural way of doing it.
Meanwhile, Banks DIH highlighted its occupancy of the property since the 1960s and lamented the worsening vending situation outside its premises, which had adversely affected business operations. The company cited financial losses and emphasised the need for the Council to address the issue promptly.
The court’s decision set a precedent, with Muneshwers Limited securing similar orders last November. This legal development prompted the City Council to issue notices and later removed vendors and encumbrances from pavements and streets surrounding various business premises.
Many longstanding businesses welcomed the judgment, hoping it would alleviate the challenges they faced due to street vending and obstruction of their properties.
