LARGE amounts of old scrap metal and a derelict vehicle were removed from Norton Street on Tuesday afternoon by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in keeping with its mandate to reclaim public spaces and parapets.

The removal was spearheaded by Town Clerk Royston King, who said the action is necessary for the safety of residents and comes about after its owner, Morris Primo, was issued several notices.

King said Primo has brought the matter upon himself with his refusal to adhere to the Municipal and District Council Act which prohibits trespass in alleyways, public and council roads, parapets and pavements.
“One individual has held the entire community hostage by storing all sorts of scrap metal and a whole host of other undesirable things, creating an environment for mosquito breeding and harbouring all kinds of reptiles.
“We couldn’t allow a situation like this to continue to remain in the city and because of that, we’re moving to clear the entire parapet and even the yard in which these things are stored,” King said.

A number of trucks and two excavators were at work at the scene with the help of several workmen who could be seen clearing items such as old refrigerators, stoves, car parts, zinc sheets and other items.
“This particular individual was warned over and over again. He’s been given notices, both verbal and written notices and he has failed to comply so we’re taking action against him,” the town clerk said.
However, speaking with reporters, Primo disagreed with King. He claimed that he did not receive a warning from the City Council, and only knew about the removal when the team of workmen showed up.
Primo who has been operating at the location for over 14 years, told reporters that had he been given extra time he would have removed the stored items.
He was very much against the removal of the truck parked on the parapet, stating that it would be damaged if removed by the excavators.
King, nonetheless, maintained his previous stance.
“These things have been stored on our parapets and on the reserve for ages and because we’ve not taken action against him, he continues to accumulate all sorts of objectionable things.

“Not caring about the way his neighbours feel and not caring about the property or property value of his neighbours. We couldn’t allow this to continue.”
The town clerk said the persons living adjacent to the scrap yard and others in the community have complained to the City Council about the ‘eyesore’, which he said Primo paid no mind to.
Speaking with two female residents living beside and behind the scrap yard, who both wished to remain unnamed, one woman said: “It was a health hazard because of rats and all of those things, plenty mosquitoes.”
The other who has small children said, “You would get a lot of mosquitoes and so on, it would be a facelift for the environment.”
Aside from the scrap metal dealer, King said a notice has been issued to a farmer who reportedly rears and slaughters pigs in the Le Repentir Cemetery, Georgetown.
This act is said to have been occurring for some 15 years and the meat is sold at the Bourda Market. The M&CC has described the situation as a dangerous health risk.
“We’ve served the notice and they have a few more days, by next week, to remove those pigs and piglets from the cemetery. We couldn’t have a farmer rearing pigs in the cemetery. It is just not right, it is completely unacceptable,” King said firmly.
Apart from the Norton Street clean up, King made known the M&CC’s intention to revisit Sussex Street, in Charlestown, where a similar scrap metal operation had been restarted by a man after the site was cleared just a few weeks ago.
The scrap metal and other materials will be transported to a Princes Street location where they will be buried.