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Celina ignores Govt to halt works
Government is involved in a tussle with a city businessman who refused to halt construction works at Celina’s Atlantic Resort.
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is now moving to court to seek an
injunction to halt what it says are unauthorized activities.
The hangout bar and restaurant, which made the news in recent months for the construction, is also finding itself in trouble with the sea defence authorities. It has illegally cleared mangroves, trucked sand, placed containers and disturbed the beach area at Kitty, with acquiring permission.
Yesterday, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, confirmed that the matter is engaging the attention of his Ministry.
“I can tell you that at least three cease orders to halt construction taking place there have been issued. They have been ignored and we have been talking to the office of the Attorney General for an injunction.”
Kaieteur News was told that since in late June, Celina’s Managing Director, Bernard Yhun, was written to about unauthorized construction taking place on the Kitty business place. He was advised that the construction was in breach of the lease issued by the Lands and Survey Commission.
He was asked to halt construction and to contact the Ministry of Public Information. Another order was issued in September.
Earlier this month, Yhun was again written to, warning him of the unauthorized construction at the sea defence reserve.
According to the Notice of Violation, any activity regarding the seas and river defence reserves has to be approved by the Sea Defence Board.
The Ministry was unhappy that Yhun breached regulations when he stockpiled construction materials, operated heavy equipment across the seawall, excavated the foreshore area, cut mangroves and did modifications of existing buildings.
Celina is also accused of placing three containers in the area.
Yhun was ordered to cease all work and remove the equipment and workers from the site.
However, the activities continued.
Yesterday, a visit to the seawall area in Kitty found workers moving sand and working on buildings there. An excavator and a truck were parked over the seawall in the area. It is unclear how they reached there.
Workers said that a “Mr. Larry” was in charge but was not there. The development at the seawall had initially raised eyebrows.
In 2003, the land was leased for 50 years to Yhun for tourism purposes, for the establishment of a seaview resort.
The land, east of the Kitty groyne and north of the seawall, was 1.54 acres with Yhun asked to pay $1.5M every two years.
Celina’s lease barred it from undertaking any work without permits from Environmental Protection Agency. A no-objection has to also be granted by the Sea Defence Board.
Yhun agreed to submit plans of any construction to the Sea Defence Board before starting any work.
He was also specifically barred from disturbing mangrove east of the property without consent of the Board.
Yhun was also told that he must move any equipment and materials to and from the area by the way of the sea.
He was forbidden to move any construction plant, equipment and materials over the sea defences without the Board’s permission.
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