TRINIDADIAN-OWNED Ramps Logistics, on Wednesday, dropped its claim of damages against the State and will now only be moving ahead with a possible settlement on costs.

This is according to one of the company’s attorneys, CV Satram, who addressed the acting Chief Justice, Roxane George, S.C., during a report hearing on the issues.
“We [Ramps] would wish to discontinue our claim for damages at this stage. However, the issue of the cost has not been settled.” Satram said.

Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke singled out his intention to “amicably resolve” the issues before the court.

The Chief Justice adjourned the matter until March 23, 2023, at 11:30 hrs, for the report on the issue of costs.

In November 2022, the Chief Justice ruled in favour of an application made by the company. Justice George, in her ruling, ordered the Local Content Secretariat (LCS) to issue a local content certificate to Ramps Logistics Guyana. The LCS had complied with the order and granted Ramps its certificate.

The logistics company, which was incorporated in 2013 and is parented by Ramps Logistics Limited out of Trinidad and Tobago, had moved to the court, arguing that its application for the certificate was unlawfully denied.

Ramps, through Senior Counsel Edward Luckhoo and Attorney-at-Law C.V Satram, had sought several orders to force the LCS to issue the document. The State is currently exploring all available options, including an appeal of the CJ’s ruling.

In June 2022, the LCS, after reviewing the company’s application, determined that the information submitted was insufficient for a proper compliance evaluation to be done by the secretariat, in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

It was reported that some 51 per cent of the company was sold to Trinidadian businessman, Deepak Lall, for G$210 million.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Lall has never represented Ramps Logistics publicly at any of its press conferences, and Trinidadian, Shaun Rampersaud, remains the face of the company.

Last year, Rampersaud was released on $500,000 bail for 10 charges of false declaration made over the past two years to the GRA. Rampersaud pleaded not guilty to the charges.