Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
Court paves way for continuation of sand-loading for export
Justice Rishi Persaud has issued a temporary order paving the way for businessman Joseph Bhaskaran to continue loading sand for export at the controversial Coverden, East Bank Demerara loading facility.
The order came in the wake of moves by Bhaskaran’s former business partners, Rodrigo de Paula and Marco Siqueira, both Brazilians, to bar him from using the facility after they had removed him as a Director of Guyana Sand Port, a company they all have shares in.
The move had resulted in Bhaskaran suffering losses as a result of the delay in loading a barge that had arrived in Port Georgetown several days ago to take sand to a Caribbean destination.
Sand for export being loaded onto a barge at Coverden, East Bank Demerara.
Rodrigo de Paula had moved to the court and obtained an injunction that barred Bhaskaran from entering the sand-loading facility. But Bhaskaran, through Guyana Sand Port, continued to load sand for export, while obeying the court order to keep off the premises.
This led to an ugly incident in which de Paula, with the protection of members of the Presidential Guard, invaded the facility and damaged the conveyor under the pretext of removing it.
Rodrigo de Paula had claimed that his actions were legal, but Bhaskaran insisted that it was an attempt to shut down the operations of the facility and put scores of employees out of work.
On Wednesday, last, Bhaskaran moved to the High Court and obtained orders that at least gave him temporary respite.
Justice Rishi Persaud, upon reading the Affidavit in Support of a motion sworn to by Bhaskaran, ordered and directed in the Interim that de Paula and Siqueira, both Directors of Guyana Sand Port Inc., as well as Yusuf Abdul, the secretary of the said company, be restrained from acting on all or any of the
Resolutions made by the Board of Directors of Guyana Sand Port.
The resolutions include removing Bhaskaran, a 50% shareholder , as a Director of Guyana Sand Port and blocking him from transacting business on behalf of the company.
Another resolution stated that Bhaskaran had acknowledged indebtedness to Start Metal, a company owned by de Paula.
Justice Persaud also ordered that the defendants be restrained from preventing and/or interfering with the discharge of the functions and duties by Bhaskaran as a Director and/or an Officer of Guyana Sand Port.
In addition, they are barred from preventing Bhaskaran from entering into and concluding contracts on behalf of the company.
This newspaper understands that the Guyana Revenue Authority had delayed the signing of documents to facilitate the loading and subsequent export of sand from the Coverden facility.
However, Justice Persaud ordered that the defendants be restrained from interfering, prohibiting and/or preventing in any manner whatsoever, inclusive of the issuance of prohibitions, instructions and directions to the Guyana Revenue Authority from processing customs and shipping documents for Guyana Sand Port Inc. and also from prohibiting and/or preventing the docking of ships and barges at Lot 9 Coverden, East Bank Demerara.
The matter is returnable for Wednesday when both sides will present further arguments.
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