Ramps Logistics drops damages claim against the State 

The Trinidadian-headquartered company, Ramps Logistics on Wednesday withdrew its claim for damages against the State but signaled its intentions to only pursue costs.

CV Satram, one of the lawyers representing Ramps Logistics, made the disclosure before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George, SC, during a hearing in the High Court.

Last November, the company won a judicial review against the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Local Content Secretariat (LCS), and the Attorney General.

The Chief Justice had ordered that the company must be issued its Local Content Certificate and entered into the Local Content Register. There were talks about appealing the ruling but that is yet to materialise.

On Wednesday, during the report hearing on the issue of damages and costs, Satram addressed the court and said “we would wish to discontinue or claim for damages at this stage. However, the issue of the cost has not been settled.”

He proceeded to make an application for the assessment of costs.

Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke said that he is open to amicably resolving these issues.

The matter is adjourned until March 23, 2023, for further reports on the cost assessment.

In June 2022, the company complained of being denied a local content certificate but claimed it had genuinely followed all required guidelines.

Ramps Logistics sold 51 per cent of the company to a Trinidad-born businessman, Deepak Lall, who has Guyanese parentage, with the intention of qualifying to be on the register which would guarantee access to a schedule of services set aside for Guyanese.