Latest update March 19th, 2026 12:35 AM
GPHC sues city council over ‘hazardous’ vending around hospital
(Kaieteur News) – The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has brought litigation against the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown over its failure to clear the streets, pavement and pathways leading to the hospital of hazardous vending and unnecessary encumbrances.
In a Fixed Date Application (FDA) filed by attorney, Sase Gunraj, the GPHC said it is seeking an administrative order of mandamus pursuant to section 8 (1) (c) of the Judicial Review Act, compelling the city council to act.
The GPHC said it wants the city council to urgently remove or cause to be removed the food, beverage and other vendors and hucksters who have set up mobile trucks, carts, stalls, and other encumbrances including but limited to vehicles, push-carts, drays, barrels, boxes, dust-bins, pallets, structures and all things left, placed or stored on the street, parapet and pavement outside the perimeter of the hospital facility.
The hospital emphasised that the mobile food trucks, food carts and stalls severely encumber its surroundings. The GPHC is situated in North Cummingsburg, a ward within the limits of the city and is bound by Middle Street, East Street, Lamaha Street and Thomas Street.
The mayor and council members during a visit to GPHC vendors in January.
According to the court document seen by this newspaper, these areas have been encumbered by numerous stationary and itinerant vendors who purvey a variety of items from a range of makeshift stalls, immovable vehicles, caravans, and push carts.
The FDA noted that the encumbrances have “impeded ingress to and egress from the applicant’s facilities,” including access for emergency vehicles, while vendors also leave behind garbage and debris along the pavements.
The application noted that in accordance with the Municipal and District Councils Act, Cap 28:01, the city of Georgetown has under its purview and directive of the city constabulary, whose duty it is to ensure that the municipality’s law, by-laws and/or regulations are implemented.
As such, the hospital is seeking the order for the city council to legally perform its statutory duty as prescribed under the municipal and district councils act and its by-laws. The hospital noted that the duty of the council is a non-discretionary one and should therefore be enforced.
The FDA outlined ‘The order sought would ensure that public order is upheld in the City of Georgetown, particularly around one of the country’s largest health facilities, and would be beneficial not only to the city, its staff and patients seeking medical services, but also to all residents of Georgetown.”
In his affidavit to support the case, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GHPC, Robbie Rambarran said the hospital sought to get the city council to address the situation but the council either failed or refused to carry out its function to have the area cleared of encumbrances.
He related that he wrote to the council on three occasions asking for their urgent intervention. He said all the attempts have proven futile. As a result, Rambarran said GPHC has turned to the court for relief.
Earlier this year, Mayor Alfred Mentore along with fellow councilors and administrators visited those vending around the GPHC, in an attempt to mitigate the continuous complaints and intent to ensure that those vendors are still given an opportunity to earn a living.
During the visit, Mayor Mentore said anyone found vending by the entrance of the hospital will face the blunt of the law.
The visit followed a lawyer’s letter which was served to the town clerk (ag), Ms. Candace Nelson, highlighing that vendors operating along New Market Street and in the vicinity of the hospital must move or court actions would be taken.
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