City Hall issues ‘Final Notice’ to vendors around Discount Store, Demico House

The Mayor and City Council of Georgetown on Thursday issued two final notices to persons vending and encumbering the pavement and entrances to Demico House in the Stabroek area and the Discount Store along Regent Street.

Both entities moved to the courts after several failed attempts to get the City Council to manage the worsening situation and secured judgments in their favour with the High Court ordering the removal of all structures and vendors.

Failure to remove will see the City Council seizing all goods and structures in the areas.

The notice did not indicate a date by which the vendors should clear the areas but it appears to be immediately.

“Please note that failure to adhere to this notice will result in the Council taking the necessary actions in accordance with Section 10 of the Government City By Laws,” the notice read.

Vendors were also advised that once their items are seized there will be a storage fee of no less than $20, 000 and items not retrieved after one month will be sold or disposed of by the Council.

Banks D.I.H. which owns Demico House had filed a Fixed Date Application through its attorney, Reon Miller, calling on the Georgetown Town Clerk and City Engineer to clear the area of vendors.

Back in January 2024, Chairman of Banks DIH Limited Clifford Reis told a large gathering of shareholders that the company would be moving to the court, as a last resort, to remove vendors from around its Stabroek Market, Demico House location.

Muneshwers Limited also went to court to seek redress for similar activities at its Water Street, Georgetown building, at the end of 2023 and after about 15 years of complaints, Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George ordered that the vendors be removed or that the Mayor and City Council take steps to seize the good of those who refuse to move.

It was a landmark judgment that has seemingly encouraged other businesses, many of them operating for decades but suffering shortfall in their business operations because they are overrun by street vending and in some cases their buildings, including entrances, are completely blocked.