Georgetown: Prominent businessman Malcolm Panday has engaged the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) making it absolutely clear that he is not facilitating vendors operating outside of his Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) zinc bond located on Water Street.
Today, Panday visited City Hall to clear up the issue of him allegedly allowing vendors to vend near his property since he understands that a court injunction has been granted on the grounds that he had given permission for vendors to operate at his location.
Panday has denied these claims and will be signing off on an affidavit that will be presented to the court next week debunking his involvement in facilitating vending at his GSL bond.
In discourse with the Council, Panday explained that the GSL zinc bond was acquired from the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) many years ago. Plans were drawn up and approval was granted from the Central Housing and Planning Authority and the City Engineer’s office for an eight story mall to be constructed.
However, Panday said vendors have occupied all four sides of the zinc structure making it extremely hard to start construction. As it stands, vendors have not only occupied part of Panday’s property, but they have taken up some of the city pavement.
Panday’s place is laid out at 109ft four inches wide and 127ft six inches long. At least 90 percent of its perimeter has been occupied by vendors who have not only placed tables and other such items on the pavement but have built structures that remain after business hours.
Vendors have been asked on different occasions to remove from the GSL location, but have not heeded those warnings. Despite advice by lawyers to commence construction regardless of their adherence to his notices, Panday said he has always been “sympathetic,” since he is aware that persons live at their place of business; some of them along with their children.
“Starting construction would be dangerous to those persons,” Panday emphasized. He related however that being unable to construct the mall has caused him on several occasions to have authorities extend his construction authorization. The most recent extension was granted last November for one year, and according to the document, should Panday fail to commence construction this year, no more extensions will be granted on the property.
“So it’s like I’m being penalized for this disorganization,” the businessman opined. He stated however, that should the mall be constructed, it would provide jobs for hundreds of persons, this is during its construction stage and its later operation stage.
In light of this information, and the court order the M&CC reiterates that no activities, specifically vending is permitted at the identified location. It was found that some persons who operated outside GSL are owners of stalls at the new vendors mall opposite the bond. They are again urged to return to their legal stalls or forfeit it.
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