GEORGETOWN Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has filed legal proceedings in the High Court seeking to compel the Georgetown Mayor and City Council to remove vendors and other obstructions from streets surrounding the country’s main public health facility.
The action, filed as a Fixed Date Application under the court’s regular jurisdiction, names the Town Clerk of the City of Georgetown as the respondent and requests an administrative order to enforce the Council’s statutory duties.
According to the court documents, GPHC is asking the court to order the removal of “food, beverage and other vendors and hucksters… including vehicles, push-carts, drays, barrels, boxes, dust-bins, pallets, structures and all things left, placed or stored on the street, parapet and pavement” in areas surrounding the hospital.
The areas specifically identified include Lamaha Street, East Street, New Market Street and Middle Street—corridors described as critical to the hospital’s daily operations.
ACCESS TO EMERGENCY CARE IMPACTED
In its filing, GPHC argues that the situation has escalated into a public health and safety concern, with encumbrances obstructing access for both patients and staff.
The application states that the presence of vendors has “impeded ingress to and egress from the Applicant’s facilities, both by medical and professional staff and most importantly, patients seeking medical services and emergency vehicles.”
Further, the hospital contends that the vendors contribute to unsanitary conditions, alleging that “vendors leave behind their waste and debris strewn across the pavement and at the side of the aforementioned streets.”
The court filings outline a timeline of engagement between GPHC and the Mayor and City Council dating back to April 2024.
According to the documents, multiple letters were sent requesting intervention, including a formal notice demanding removal of vendors within seven days and subsequent correspondence in May 2024 and January 2026 calling for urgent action.
Despite initial indications from City Hall of a willingness to address the issue, the hospital claims no meaningful follow-up action was taken.
The affidavit notes that “several attempts were made to engage the Mayor and City Council… however, these attempts have proven futile.”
ALLEGED FAILURE OF STATUTORY DUTY
GPHC’s legal team, led by attorneys Sase Gunraj and Jayaram Sanasie, contends that under the Municipal and District Councils Act and the City’s by-laws, the council has a clear, non-discretionary obligation to keep public spaces free from obstruction. Central to GPHC’s case is the argument that the City Council has failed to uphold its legal responsibilities under the Municipal and District Councils Act.
The filing asserts that it is the duty of the respondent and its agents to ensure that public roadways remain clear, and that this obligation is “a non-discretionary one and should therefore be enforced.”
The hospital further contends that the continued presence of vendors reflects a breakdown in enforcement by the City Constabulary, which falls under the Council’s purview.
“The Respondent has failed and/or neglected to uphold this statutory responsibility in allowing this encumbrance to persist for as long as it did,” the document states.
GPHC is positioning the matter as one of broader public interest, arguing that clearing the surrounding streets would not only benefit the institution but also the wider population.
The filing states that the orders sought would ensure “public order is upheld in the City of Georgetown, particularly around one of the country’s largest health facilities… and would be beneficial not only to the Applicant… but also to all residents of Georgetown.”
The hospital is also seeking costs and any additional relief the court deems appropriate.
The application has been filed and served, with the court expected to set a hearing date. The respondent has been advised to file an affidavit in defence within the stipulated timeframe or risk judgement being entered in its absence.