The Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) yesterday began removing scrap iron belonging to South Carib Metals Company Limited, which it had ordered to vacate an area it was occupying at Urquhart Street but had not done so.
South Carib Metals has been occupying the eastern Section of the locomotive shed and bond space from where it conducts its business, which it had rented from T&HD.
Secretary of South Carib Metals Randolph Johnson said the land space had been legally rented to the company and expressed outrage, stating that T&HD had occasioned a “breach of contract” by requesting that the company vacate the premises in seven days.
According to Johnson, T&HD should have given his company three months notice if it wanted to repossess the premises.
However, in addition to the tenancy agreement and other documents South Carib Metals produced to support its reason for continuing to occupy the premises, was a letter dated June 9, 2008 from T&HD addressed to Johnson, giving the company three weeks notice to remove.
T&HD said in that letter as well as a final notice dated May 28 this year that it needed the area for developmental purposes.
Johnson is of the opinion that the land is being repossessed to be given to another company.
Johnson said the final notice to vacate was received on May 29 for the company to have fully removed by yesterday.
However it did not and when Stabroek News visited yesterday, T&HD was in the process of removing the scrap iron.
