Japarts, one of the businesses targeted by City Hall in its campaign to reclaim parapets and alleyways that have been unlawfully occupied or obstructed, has adhered to a request to clear the parapet.
Japarts was granted permission by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to pave and utilise the parapet in front and adjacent to its 38 Croal Street location.
The location was supposed to be for parking purposes but City Hall said the company engaged in mechanical repairs and related activities, which then saw the dumping of waste oil into drainage system, “contributing to the destruction of the ecology of the environment.”
A Japarts representative, who asked not to be named, yesterday acknowledged that the business received a notice from the Georgetown City Council and adhering to the request. “We did comply and completely cleared the parapet, which was built by us at a cost of $17M,” the official said.
City Hall on Friday identified a number of businesses which were sent notices instructing them to desist from unlawful construction and to surrender parapets and alleyways which belong to the city.
In a statement, City Hall also indicated that the New Thriving Restaurant was summoned to court several times for several building code violations but the summons were ignored.
New Thriving was also accused of ignoring building boundaries and claimed alleyways at its Camp and Brickdam location.
When the New Thriving Restaurant was contacted yesterday, a manager said that he was not aware of any notices being sent to the restaurant and offered no other comments on the city’s statement.
On June 18, 2015, City Engineer Colvern Venture wrote to the restaurant informing it of a breach at its Camp and Brickdam location. The letter, which was addressed to Che Jiang Ping, urged
the immediate removal of all unauthorised works at the location. It noted the extension of the northern and eastern sides of the existing building with a steel frame, leaving less than 4’0” of the Council’s required distance of the eastern and northern boundaries of Lot 37, Camp Street & Brick-dam, Stabroek, George-town, without the Coun-cil’s written permission. Venture further advised that the letter constituted a notice under the George-town Building By-laws and upon failure to comply he will take such steps as are available to him under the law.
Acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) for City Hall Deborah Lewis yesterday also disclosed that another notice was sent to businessman John Ganesh, owner of the IMEX building on High and Leopold streets. According to Lewis, Ganesh has been encumbering a section of Middle Street, where he also operates a business.
Lewis said the notice, which was sent yesterday, served to instruct Ganesh to remove a lowbed truck he has parked along the street along with other vehicles. Since the street is very narrow, Lewis said, the parked vehicles pose a danger to road users.
On August 7th, the Council tore down a steel fence built by Ganesh at the IMEX building because he had not obtained permission from the Council for the work.
Lewis said although permission was given to businesses to use the alleyways and parapets, the privilege was abused and the agreed conditions were not honoured.
