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GRIL versus National Hardware …Eddie Boyer grilled about destruction of disputed property
The legal dispute between local commercial giants, National Hardware and Guyana Realty Investment Limited (GRIL) over prime land in the city continued yesterday, with National Hardware’s owner, Eddie Boyer, denying that he at no
National Hardware, Proprietor, Eddie Boyer
time destroyed any building, which was situated on the Regent Street plot.
Eddie Boyer, who is also known as Claude Deygoo, claims that he and his wife, Donna Deygoo, have legal entitlement to the said property on the basis of a transported title, they acquired in September 2008.
But, the property located at 117 “B” Regent and Alexander Streets, Georgetown, became a source of contention several years ago, with Sattaur Gafoor, the Chairman of GRIL, which is linked to Gafoor & Sons Group of Companies, claiming that GRIL has a prescriptive title, having purchased the property from a third party (Stanley Collymore) in 1993, to use the premises to operate a paint shop.
The ongoing matter is being heard by Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire at the High Court in Georgetown. The Boyers are being represented by Attorneys-at-Law Devindra Kissoon and Rajendra Poonai, while GRIL is being represented by Rex McKay S.C, Edward Luckhoo S.C, and Neil Boston.
Yesterday, Boyer was asked about his knowledge of the demolition and the occupation of the building on the property. When asked by Attorney Rex McKay S.C, about occupants of the building located on the property, Boyer said that he met a few people, who were tenants of the property, in 2007.
Boyer said that he was introduced to Donna Chase, as one of Stanley Collymore’s tenants in 2007. Chase, he said, had occupied a part of the building located at 117 ‘B’ Regent Street but subsequently moved, because the building was being condemned.
Asked how he knew this, Boyer said that he saw a signed document from Collymore to Chase to that effect.
The Attorney then asked the witness whether he could recall when he saw the document.
“I think it was 2007,” Boyer replied. The witness went on to note that he also met Mahendra Gangaram at the property. He recalled speaking to Gangaram, who operated a business at the side the building at 177 ’B’ Regent Street.
“Would it be correct for me to say that Gangaram is now, one of your tenants?” the Attorney inquired.
Boyer responded in the negative, but told the court that of the three persons currently occupying the property, only one is a tenant.
The persons, the witness said, include Gangaram, Alicia Moore and Franklin Bumbury of Classic Creations. He said that Bumbury is the only person paying a rental for occupation of the building.
At a previous hearing, the court heard that GRIL is currently not in possession of the disputed property, given that, during December 2009, the property was destroyed by persons allegedly acting on instruction of the Boyers.
“Do you know that a building at 177 ‘B’ Regent Street was broken down in December 2009?” Mc Kay asked.
“Yes,” Boyer quickly responded, adding that it was because City Council had condemned it and had sent persons to break it down.
His response met with warnings from Justice George-Wiltshire, who cautioned the witness that his answer should only be simply “yes” or “no,” at this point
But Boyer continued to reaffirm that it was City Council that was responsible for the destruction of the building.
As the lawyer sought to get from the witness, how he knew it was City Council that was responsible for the demolition of the said building, Boyer repeatedly said that the building was condemned by the council.
He subsequently clarified that he had sent persons to investigate and he received information that City Council was there to break down the building. The hearing is scheduled for continuation on June 18, 2015.
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