Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council Royston King has said that no permission was given for the ongoing expansion of the Celina Atlantic Resort.
King, who said that permission was initially granted for the facility’s construction, told Stabroek News that a check made at the Engineer’s Department revealed that no permission was granted for the construction work that has been ongoing for months.
The resort is located in an environmentally sensitive area next to the Kitty pump station, which has raised concerns about the danger of the recent expansion to the courida and mangrove trees in the area. Engineers have said the resort’s expansion is in violation of several laws, but the attorney for its proprietor has maintained that there is noting preventing the works.
Meanwhile, King added that that the Council is particularly concerned about the number of unauthorised construction works that appear to be occurring in the city.
In some cases, he said, some works are a breach of building regulations, including over-spilling of legal boundaries, misuse of council’s parapets and other reserves, blocking of drains and also improper storage of building materials. He noted that these actions have consequences since they are not only posing risks to the safety of residents in local communities but also for the public health of the city.
Pointing out some in particular, King said that there is an 11-ft fence being erected on Regent Street that is associated with the Reaz Khan building, another huge fence being constructed on the corner of Hunter Street and Nelson Avenue in Albouystown, and an unauthorised construction at the nearby Punt Trench Dam.
He recalled that these matters were raised at last week’s statutory meeting and the Council has since instructed the City Works Committee to visit the sites to recommend appropriate action be taken.
