By Alva Solomon

A SHOWDOWN between City Hall and two Water Street shipping companies on Tuesday saw the Georgetown Municipality blocking the movement of container-laden trucks from the companies’ city wharves over a $25,000 shipping container tax.Town Clerk, Royston King reported that the move is aimed at commencing repair works to the roads. At the scene, Assistant Town Clerk, Sherry Jerrick noted that the council was invoking Sections 273/74 of the city by-laws “with respect to the use of roads by vehicles of a certain weight”.

City Constables proceeded to place barricades outside the entrances of Muneshwers and John Fernandes Limited on Water Street, leaving company officials baffled at the move by the council.

King said the issue is relative to Section 274/76 of the city by-laws which he noted stipulates that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council is entitled to fees by those persons who use roadways, streets parapets and space owned by all citizens on the city.

“We have the right and authority to charge fees and this is what we are doing in this particular point of time”, he said. “It’s not getting the containers really, it’s really getting to do maintenance works, critical works to our roadways in the city,” the Town Clerk told reporters.

Robin Muneshwer, a manager at Muneshwers Limited on Water Street told members of the media that no prior notice was given to the company about the move.

“There is a barricade outside our compound, we can’t move. They just came and no traffic is allowed out”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Town Clerk, Jerrick told reporters that the issue is not confined to the parking of containers, a matter which was recently discharged by the courts in favour of the businesses against City Hall.

“It is not only about parking but also with the traversing of the roadway,” she said. She confirmed that a $25,000 was being asked per container to operate on the roadway.

LAW DOES NOT APPLY
Attorney, Robert Hanoman noted that the section of the law being enforced by City Hall does not apply to penalties being charged per container. He said the section in question “is vague, uncertain” and cannot be enforced by a court of law.

Hanoman said that Muneshwers will seek legal advice and let the courts pronounce on the issue. He advised that the company should “not pay at this stage.” According to Hanoman, the containers should be allowed on the roadway until the matter is decided by the courts.

“We would take legal action,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Town Clerk noted that inspection by engineers at City Hall determined the need to “begin urgent works to some of the roadways.” He said that the access roads to industrial sites area are an example of the damage done by the heavy vehicles.

“What we are trying to do is save these roads from further deterioration and further erosion”, King said. He added that fatigue by some of the heavy-duty single axle vehicles and container carriers are being looked at by the City Council with the view of seeking to restrict their use of the roadways in the city.

Shortly after 13:30h, this publication observed the heavy vehicles operating into John Fernandes Limited compound along Water Street. Persons there noted that the vehicles were allowed in after the issue was discussed.