Housing Dept halts construction of Store, Gas Station

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Friday served a notice on Mr. Shamnarine Narine of Guyana Tractor and Equipment Company for unauthorized construction at Plot ‘HN’ Industrial Reserve, Plantation Ruimveldt.

A statement from the CH&PA on Saturday revealed that Mr. Narine was ordered to cease all activities (Development/Construction work) with immediate effect under the Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 20:01 of the Laws of Guyana.

“The notice was signed for and received by an excavator operator who is in the employ of Mr. Narine.”

According to the statement, Mr. Narine applied to the Central Housing and Planning Authority for full approval of Planning Permission on April 30, 2018, to erect a two-storey building (25’ – 0 x 55’ -0) on both floors for commercial use as a Convenience Store on the ground floor and offices on the first floor and to install four fuel pumps and three underground tanks for Kerosene, Gasoline and Diesoline for use as a Gas Station.

It was noted that on May 11, 2018, the Convenience Store and offices were recommended for approval on condition that the developer amended plans in accordance with recommendations from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure indicating no access from Mandela Avenue.

The gas station was rejected on the following basis:

1. The site is still not suitable for such a development since the site cannot be accessed from the Mandela Avenue which is the main thoroughfare. Access must be from a main thoroughfare, and

2. The proposed means of access (Plumbaggo Street and the roadway) are minor streets that cannot serve as means of ingress and egress since they are not suitable and inappropriate.

The CH&PA revealed that residents of the Shirley Field-Ridley Square, South Ruimveldt in a petition to the agency rejected the construction of the gas station and the convenience store and offices.

“Additionally, the agency is concerned with the destruction that was caused to the road and road shoulders by heavy-duty equipment used by Mr. Narine to drive piles into the ground.”