THE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) was awarded $40,000 in costs after complainants who had caused a High Court Judge to lay an injunction against the Municipality on Tuesday withdrew their case.A vendor who refused to be part of the city’s ongoing street vendor relocation initiative approached the High Court last week to halt his removal from where he operated — in front of the Guyana Stores zinc bond on Water Street. In a report, City Hall said the vendor had claimed that the bond’s owner, businessman Malcom Panday, had given vendors permission to vend in front of his property.

The court ordered the injunction ahead of a hearing of the matter. However, Panday denied giving permission for vendors to occupy the perimeter of his bond, and provided an affidavit to authorities attesting to this information. When the matter was called at the High Court on Tuesday, the complainant withdrew his case and costs were awarded to City Hall. Prior to this, the Council was also able to have the injunction discharged. Lawyer for City Hall, Attorney-at-law Roger Yearwood, had a day earlier presented the businessman’s affidavit to the court, and the injunction was discharged.

The Mayor and City Council says it is currently seeking an organised and healthy vending situation in the city, and welcomes participation of all stakeholders.