Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2009 News
The proprietor of a grocery store situated on the government reserves, at the junction of Mandela Avenue and Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge, is accusing the officials of the Ministry of Works of victimization, after they dismantled his business place, leaving him and his family to battle the elements.
Otis Garraway, 42, resides in the section adjoining his grocery store, with his reputed wife, Rohell Ramos, and their six children, whose ages range from six to 18. He told Kaieteur News that he has been operating the business for close to two decades, until some time last year when officials from the Ministry of Public Works warned him that they were contemplating clearing the area.
Garraway also said that he was assured that he would have been re-sited to the plot of land situated on the southern side of the National Gymnasium. He said that Public Works officials had distributed the relevant forms to the squatters to occupy the new location, but said that they needed to complete some infrastructural works in the new location.
Garraway further explained that after the residents had filled out the documents, the officials collected them for processing purposes. That was the last they heard of the matter.
However, Minister of Public Works and Communication, Robeson Benn, debunked the businessman’s claims while pointing out that his Ministry is forging ahead with plans to clear the government reserves of illegal squatters.
Mr. Benn, said that Garraway is in contravention of the city’s by-laws and his Ministry recently embarked on a mission to stamp out such occurrences, since they pose health risks to other citizens legitimately living in the environs.
He also said that Garraway has been playing music at alarming decibels and actually hosts parties at the location. “Initially, I have had reservations about business places at such a critical point,” Mr. Benn said. He further explained that coupled with the location, the music worsened the situation.
“People are ganging up at that point and even little children, sent by their parents to make purchases, are at risk,” Minister Benn pointed out.
However, Garraway told a contrasting story. He said that he believes that the Public Works Minister had singled him out for victimization. He said that he opens for business around 09:00hrs and operates for about 12 hours. He admitted that he plays music, but said that he does so at an acceptable decibel.
The young businessman related that last Monday morning, several men approached him and identified themselves as Public Works officials who had been ordered to dismantle his premises. Garraway said that he pleaded with them to allow him to seek an audience with the Minister and they complied. He said that he and an uncle, one Bertie Nedd, visited the Minister at his Kingston office.
He said that Mr. Benn informed him that he had received numerous complaints from Lodge residents, that the music emanating from his business place was too loud and that the activities posed a threat to the safety of persons shopping at his business place. Garraway said that he vehemently denied this and promised the Minister to rectify the situation. He said that the Minister refused to recant on the decision to dismantle his premises.
Meanwhile, some residents are adamant that Mr. Benn was right to take such a stance. They said that Garraway opens for business at around 09:00hrs up to late hours of the night, all this time his music blares at loud decibels. The residents say that despite their most impassioned pleas, Garraway continued to disturb their peace. “We hardly get to relax because of the music,” one resident complained.
Other sources also disclosed that they had lodged complaints at the Public Works Ministry who in turn had advised Garraway to desist. However, he refused to comply, forcing the Minister’s hand.
Meanwhile, several residents operating businesses on the embankment are fearful that they would be next to fall under the hammer. Quizzed on the Government’s position on this matter, Mr. Benn emphatically stated, “We will deal with such instances when they arrive. My Ministry would not tolerate squatting at the risk and well being of legitimate residents.”
Garraway, his reputed wife and their children were packing their possessions onto a Canter truck for another location. “We have nowhere to go,” said Ramos, “We will just have to spend the night exposed to the elements,” she concluded.
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