City Hall demolishes another ‘illegal’ pavement

Mar 21, 2016 News

Armed with jack-hammers, a crew from the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday demolished what they said was an illegally constructed pavement in Camp Street.

M&CC workers as they demolished the pavement

The pavement is at the back of an unfinished building being constructed by businessman Rizwam Khan, who deemed the M&CC’s action as an unfair and spiteful act.
But an official from M&CC said that the businessman did not receive permission from the Council to build the structure.
Khan, though, is claiming that he did not build the pavement and even if he had wanted to, he would not have needed permission.
“We don’t have to get permission to do the pavement. Why didn’t they break City Mall pavement? It is five feet higher than me own. Why didn’t they break down Footsteps pavement? It is nine feet higher than me own.”
Khan stated that he bought the plot of land from the owners of Kissoon’s Furniture Store a few years after their establishment was destroyed by fire.
The man said that the Council never notified him about having any issues with the pavement. He said that he was only informed that it was being demolished yesterday morning after receiving a call from his security guard.
In the meantime, the businessman said that he is going to leave the pavement just as it is. “Who walk there and bruk their foot is they problem,” he exclaimed.
Just last week, the council removed an elevated structure in front of the Royal Castle Fast Food outlet on Croal Street, after a businesswoman stumbled on three inclined six-inch platforms.

City Hall crewmen demolishing the pavement
outside of the Royal Castle establishment

The woman, Bibi Singh suffered a broken left foot among other injuries.
Town Clerk Royston King had told Kaieteur News that Royal Castle got no permission to elevate the pavement. But a Royal Castle official had said that the company was granted permission to modify the pavement in front of the outlet.