Latest update November 5th, 2024 1:00 AM
UG hire-car drivers ordered to move again
Hire-car drivers operating along the UG access road are working on the western side of the road but a court order has barred them from using that area.
– calling on institution’s authorities to intervene
Hire-car drivers operating from the head of the University of Guyana (UG) access road are contemplating protest actions after being continuously blocked from working in the area.
Following the completion of a court action in July, the drivers were stopped from operating in front of the Beharry residence.
They then went further south on the road, in front of the Gafoors apartment complex, but management there has since erected posts on the reserves, effectively stopping any parking there.
“About a week now we been parking on the western half of the UG road head, on the other side of a road…where we were barred (by a High Court ruling) from operating,” said Subramanie Lackhraj, a driver who was working the area for 10 years,.
“They come and tell us that we now have to move. Where we gun go now? We have to make a living too.”
With about nine cars operating the road, the drivers expressed fears yesterday that the police may eventually step in and attempt to move them.
The drivers are now calling on the UG management to intervene since students will be affected, especially since the campus is reopening on Monday.
While government has been saying the parking area are reserves under their control, in July, a local court barred the Ministry of Public Works from building a car park on an area located in front of the residence of the Beharry family.
Signs erected by the Ministry were covered over with “No Parking” ones.
With the hire-cars providing a crucial linkage to UG, the Cyril Potter College of Education, and residents of Turkeyen and Industry, there have been numerous complaints about the instability of the parking arrangements.
President of University of Guyana Students’ Society (UGSS), Sherod Duncan, had said that the matter was engaging the attention of the body and an urgent meeting had been convened with the Students Advisory Bureau to examine, among other things, a possible new location for the park.
The court order stemmed from announcements by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, in July 2009, in which he signaled intentions to establish a car park on the north-eastern parapet of UG Road.
In September last year, the Beharry family, through its company Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited, filed for temporary orders, and was granted same on October 29, 2009.
The plaintiffs argued that the decision of Minister Benn to build a car park was without lawful authority and was made in bad faith, was unreasonable, illegal and is null and void.
On July 15 last, Chief Justice (ag), Ian Chang, made the order absolute, prohibiting the Ministry of Public Works and its Minister Robeson Benn from moving forward with the decision to build the car park.
There have been arguments by the Public Works Ministry that the intention to establish the car park was due to the fact that a bus stop was already in the area and for the safety of students and others, the park location was contemplated.
Yesterday, Vice-Chairman of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union, Freddie Kissoon, said that following complaints by the drivers, he yesterday made contact with senior officials of the campus who indicated that the matter is being discussed.
Kissoon said that UG authorities have not fulfilled their obligations to the students who are affected.
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