Drama over pools …City Hall removes swimming pools blocking Bel Air parapets
City Hall employees pooled their strength  to remove the swimming pools from the City Council’s reserve in front of at least two lots at Ixora Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. [Samuel Maughn photo]
City Hall employees pooled their strength to remove the swimming pools from the City Council’s reserve in front of at least two lots at Ixora Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. [Samuel Maughn photo]

IT was high drama Thursday morning when workers of City Hall attempted to remove several swimming pools that were on display on the parapets in front of at least two lots at Ixora Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown. During the operation ranks of the City Constabulary were forced to brandish their weapons as an employee of the company that owned the pools — Amazonia Pools — began behaving in an erratic manner. Town Clerk Royston King along with several senior officials of the municipality, including city constables, had visited the 77 Ixora Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown location with the intention of removing four large swimming pools that were stationed on the council’s reserves. King described the operation as “major” and told the Guyana Chronicle that permission was not granted by the Council for the swimming pools to be placed on the reserve and over a drain which runs parallel to Sheriff Street.
Initially, the Town Clerk said the reluctance of the business owner and/or managers to remove the pools despite receiving written notice from the Town Council had left the Council with no other choice but to remove the pools by any means possible. He indicated that he would “cut up” the pools to make it easier for removal. However, he was subsequently advised to remove the swimming pools and as such a lowbed trailer and a forklift were secured to assist in the process, but as they awaited a rope, to fasten the pools to the forklift, more than a dozen men attached to the Council lifted two of the pools onto the truck with their bare hands. It is unclear where the representatives of the Council lodged the removed swimming pools.
It was in the process of removing the remaining two swimming pools that an altercation ensued between senior constables and a man believed to be an employee of Amazonia Pools. According to information received, at mid-morning, the City Council’s representatives were attempting to remove the swimming pools and in the process there was an exchange of words which resulted in voices being raised and the City Constabulary’s Assistant Superintendent, Gordon Langevine pulling his gun from his waist as tempers flared.
During that time, representatives of the Council surrounded the young man who continued to raise his voice in defence. In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle around 09:15hrs, King said the placing of the pools by the businessman not only presents a bad picture of the city, but is illegal and is a haven for the breeding of mosquitoes.
“It is also very dangerous the way it is stored, in the event a vehicle has to manoeuvre where is the space? It is in front of other people’s property, it is an act of selfishness; it has to stop.”
The Town Clerk said efforts have been made repeatedly by the City Council to speak with the businessman but all proved futile. “We spoke to a woman on three occasions on the phone, we have asked her to remove them because the neighbours are complaining. I am here today because I am going to cut it up, cut up these things; I am waiting on the power saw to come. I have had it with these kinds of people,” a frustrated King declared.

The swimming pools are said to be on the City Council’s reserve
The swimming pools are said to be on the City Council’s reserve

According to King, notices were served to the businessman who operates from his home but no effort was made to remove the swimming pools. “They have shown no care, no respect, not only for the city, but for their own neighbours. This has been like this now for over three to four weeks. We have been talking, trying to reach them. When we spoke to them initially, there was only one braced up there, now they’ve brought three more…this is a clear sign of disrespect and disregard for the law.”
The Town Clerk believes that people feel they could get away with illegal activities because the City Council is now well equipped. “This has been the pattern, the engineer was here and he spoke to a woman on the phone and she said she has no other place to store it…that is not our concern…these pavements are collectively owned by all of the citizens of Georgetown, we must have respect for the city.”
King maintains that such activities cannot occur in other cities of the world. “It is unacceptable!” But Director of Marketing for Amazonia Pools, Shelliza Allie, told a different story. She told the Guyana Chronicle that she has been in communication with City Hall’s Engineer, Colvern Venture, from October 20 and she said she explained to the City Engineer that she was not in a position to remove the swimming pools immediately and she was awaiting a low-bed that was coming from the hinterland. “I am kindly asking for a couple of days to remove the pools…I was very busy yesterday and we decided not to carry on the business here. We will use the place to house the Brazilian technicians when here,” said Allie.
Venture then asked Allie, “What period are we looking at?” to which she replied, “by next Saturday…I am waiting on the lowbed to come out the interior.”
The City Engineer told Allie that he had already prepared a notice to serve on the owner or operator of the business and urged Allie to get the swimming pools removed before Saturday (October 29). “Well the land lady never told us we cannot do business here… she knows what we were renting the place for… And told us it was ok,” Allie told Venture via text message.
A few days after, Venture told Allie that the pools were still on the parapets and she reminded him that she had asked for time to remove the swimming pools.
“I asked you for up to Saturday…We have a place…Waiting on the lowbed,” she said to which Venture replied, “ok, no problem.” Allie then asked for a copy of the notice he prepared for her records. “Can you tell me when we can pick it up?”
The Chief Engineer told the Director of Marketing that he will let her know. “I must tell you that as long as the notice is served and you fail to comply within 48 hours, action will be taken by the council. That is one of the reasons I did not serve you the notice as yet, since you asked for some time.” “Ok when I am moving the pool i would need it…I am paying a lot of money for the property and i am getting a hard time with the landlady…they are demanding two months’ notice to move and we have a heavy deposit there, so I need to prove we cannot do business there,” responded Allie.
Venture then asked the Director of Marketing for the name of the business owner and the address, all of which were provided. She was then informed that her matter along with others was being discussed by Council at a meeting. Allie told the Guyana Chronicle that Amazonia Pools is owned by Ibrahim Mustapha, a Brazilian national who is currently ill and in Brazil. As such, she manages the business.
“They are telling lies on me…It is a good thing I have the evidence to show,” declared Allie. She explained that the company is contemplating legal action against the City Council while disclosing that all of the pools removed by the City Council were damaged. She said, the pools are worth $14M. “I never received the written notice…we got there with trucks to move pools- they had only moved two and they refused to have us to move the other two—though we had trucks…” she stated.

 

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