THE Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has served notice on the Guyana Tractor and Equipment Company (GuyTrac) to halt unauthorised construction on a plot of land near Mandela Avenue.

The notice is in conformity with the Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 20:01 of the Laws of Guyana. The land in question is located a few blocks away from where the company operates several other businesses stretching along the thoroughfare.
On Friday, the notice served on Shamnarine Narine ordered that he cease, with immediate effect, all activities; these include development and construction works at Plot ‘HN’ Industrial Reserve, Plantation Ruimveldt.

The notice was signed for and received by an excavator operator who is in the employ of Narine, the CH&PA said in a statement on Saturday.

According to the CH&PA, Narine submitted an application to the agency for full approval of Planning Permission on April 30, 2018, to erect a two-storey building for commercial use. The upper floor was intended to house offices, while the ground floor was expected be a convenience store. Within the vicinity, four fuel pumps and three underground tanks for kerosene, gasoline and dieseline were expected to be installed for use as a gas station.
“On May 11, 2018, the convenience store and offices were recommended for approval on condition that the developer amended plans in accordance with recommendations from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, indicating no access from Mandela Avenue,” the CH&PA said.

It noted that the gas station was rejected on two bases: the site is still not suitable for such a development, since it cannot be accessed from Mandela Avenue, which is the main thoroughfare; access must be from a main thoroughfare.

In addition, the CH&PA said the proposed means of access, which is from Plumbaggo Street and another roadway are minor streets that cannot serve as means of ingress and egress; they are not suitable and inappropriate.

The CH&PA said it is concerned with the destruction that was caused to the road and road shoulders by heavy-duty equipment used by Narine to drive piles into the ground.
Meanwhile, it was also noted by the CH&PA that the residents of the Shirley Field-Ridley Square, South Ruimveldt, in a petition to the agency have rejected the construction of the gas station and the convenience store and offices.

Residents told the Guyana Chronicle that the lands in the area were set aside for beautification purposes by the community.

“They already have plenty businesses along Mandela; the whole area from the traffic light go back they have businesses. Why are they so greedy,” an angry resident told this publication earlier on Saturday.

It was noted that when the workmen commenced clearing the area several days ago, they blocked a canal at the junction of Mandela Avenue and a street leading to the community. This resulted in Mandela Avenue being flooded for almost 24-hours.

Residents expressed hope that the businessman would be barred from erecting any business operation in the area in question.