Rope supplier wins $40M suit against Demerara bridge company after non-payment

Crabwood Creek resident Ramesh Sahadeo on Wednesday secured a $40 million judgement against the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation over non-payment for materials he supplied in May of 2014.

A team of lawyers, headed by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, had filed a fixed date application asking for $40,425,000 and interest on the sum at a rate of 6% per annum from the date of filing to the date of judgment and thereafter at the rate of 4% per annum until fully paid as well as costs and such further or other reliefs as the court may deem just.   

Judgment was handed down by Justice Priya Sewnarine-Beharry following a full trial. The matter was filed in May, 2017.

Nandlall, in a brief statement to the media after the judgment, said that the bridge company’s attorney, Patrice Henry, unsuccessfully applied for a six month stay of execution of the judgment. “This Application was refused because the Honourable Justice Sewnarine-Beharry stated that the Respondent, Demerara Harbour Bridge, has not demonstrated to the Honourable Court that they have a good prospect of success,” Nandlall said.

Sahadeo, in his affidavit, explained that he imports items into Guyana for resale. He said that upon the bridge company’s request, during the month of May, 2014, he sold and delivered 61,000 feet of 5/8” wire rope and 12,500 feet of ¾” wire rope at the agreed price of $550 per foot each, at the total value of $40,425,000.

“Despite my repeated demands for payment of the sum of forty million, four hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars ($40,425,000), the Respondent has failed, refused or neglected to do so,” he added.