A sharp difference of opinion has arisen between the heads of the local Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) over the banning of the popular seawall ‘lime’.
The ban last week, which followed severe overtopping of the seawall the previous week, was quickly endorsed by PSC Chairman Ron Webster. However, GCCI President Clinton Urling, speaking shortly after a chamber media briefing on Tuesday said he did not share Webster’s view on the ban. He asserted that neither he, in his capacity as a vice-chairman of the PSC, nor the chamber had been consulted on the PSC’s position. Urling said he believed the reasons given by the Works Ministry for banning the city’s best-supported, free, regular, recreational event – indiscriminate garbage disposal, damage to the sea defences and traffic congestion resulting from parking – were not sustainable since he felt the various issues could be managed.
The ban came just days after serious overtopping occurred at the seawall; a development which was followed by official comments on the disposal of beverage and food containers and snack wrappings at the seawall area. Little was said about the belated efforts to deploy hymacs to the area to clear canals in the vicinity of the seawall shortly after the initial waves overtopped, flooding sections of the roadway and nearby residential areas.
The Public Works Ministry has relocated the evening ‘lime’ from between Vlissengen Road and Ocean View to the section of seawall between Camp Street and Vlissengen Road and has announced that, among other things, three-month vending permits will be issued to vendors.
Urling said he was concerned about the likely loss of earnings that might accrue to some vendors as a result of the relocation of the recreational event.
