Bus stop impeding business

Dear Editor,

My name is Kamal Kanhai and I am the proprietor of Kanhai’s Guyana Electrical Agency of 146 Regent Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. I am a member of Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry.

This morning, when I arrived at my workplace and was parking my vehicle in front of my building as I do every day, I saw a sign saying ‘BUS ONLY,’ and my employee informed me that I could not park there. I had to go across the road and park my vehicle. As you are aware it is difficult to find parking on Regent Street especially during the Christmas season. I have to pay the city council rates and taxes to the value of $260,000 per year. I have to pay VAT every month, NIS, PAYE and income tax every year end, and pay my employees’ wages every week.

Customers have been complaining to me over the years that they cannot find parking when they come to shop. Now that they have put a bus stop in front of my store which has a 34 foot area, neither myself nor customers can park there. I cannot park the van to discharge goods to my building, neither can my wife park her car there or else they would be charged and the vehicles towed away. I would like you to take up this matter most urgently with the relevant authorities, as this present situation will affect the income of my business. Yesterday a customer came to pick up an item; he made a quick stop and came into the store, but when he went out to his car, a policeman who was there charged him. I had to pay the fine of five thousand dollars.

Yours faithfully,
Kamal Kanhai

Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Commissioner of  Police (ag) Henry Greene for any comments he might wish to make.