The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday denied that it was a party or privy to any court action involving the popular ‘Dread Shop,’ which its workers demolished on Thursday morning.
A statement issued by the M&CC, and signed by Town Clerk Royston King, said that the council was never restrained by any order from the court with regard to the illegally erected structure in the Stabroek Market area.
Attorney Nigel Hughes, who is representing ‘Dread Shop’ owner Anthony Ford, had told the media that a matter between his client and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was currently in the Appeal Court. In 2011, the then Ministry of Public Works had taken Ford to court in relation to the establishment of the permanent structure at the site.
The M&CC statement said that had the council been made aware of the existence of a court order or proceeding regarding the status of the ‘Dread Shop,’ it would have taken that fact into consideration and decided on ways in which it would address the illegal structure.
It was stated that the proprietors of the ‘Dread Shop’ had been informed by the council that they were required to vacate the area and had been given sufficient notice. The owners, the statement went on to say, did not inform the City Council that an issue with another party regarding their removal was engaging the attention of the court.
The statement added that the entity was in breach of the Municipals and District Council Act Chapter 28:01. “The area where the said ‘Dread Shop’ was erected fell within what is described as a council area within the meaning of that term, under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01,” the release said.
Further, the city council said in the statement that it had received numerous reports alleging “illicit and nefarious activities being carried out occasionally, particularly on the weekends at the shop,” although up to the time of removing the structure, it was not able to substantiate the allegations.
The council said it would investigate the issue thoroughly and issue a further statement at a future date when it has more information.
