‘Mr Ram’ deeply hurt by Government’s actions

The former owners of the property Liquidation Centre, which comprises two units – Furniture Limited and Tiny Tots Limited, remain deeply hurt by how it was acquired by Government.

One of the owners of Liquidation Centre, businesswoman Asha “Mrs Ram” Merchandani last Monday exited the building for the final time. This brought an end to over a quarter of a century of operating the business at Lower Bay Street in The City. She did so under the watchful eye of law enforcement and personnel from the Ministry of Housing and Lands who took possession of the property.

The property was acquired by Government through the compulsory acquisition process of Parliament, with the notice to acquire having been served on the owners since in March this year. This property forms part of the tourism footprint identified by the Mia Mottley Administration for a number of hotel developments, including the new Hyatt.

In a statement from the Attorney General’s office last Sunday, it was stated the November 4, 2019 deadline to turn over possession of the property to the Government had not been met, but the company wrote Government asking for an extension of occupation until January 2020, which Government rejected, on the grounds that the company had been given more than enough time to complete its relocation.

The statement also said on Friday November 15, 2019 the operators of the Liquidation Centre were instructed to immediately vacate the property, and informed that if they failed to, on Monday November18, 2019 Government would take active possession and remove to storage all items still inside the building. In response, on November 16, 2019, the owners sought injunctive relief through the High Court, which dismissed the application on the basis that there was no serious issue to be tried. The company then sought a stay of execution, which the court also rejected.

The statement further said while Government now effectively owns the property, the process of compensation has not been completed. However, talks have been on-going between the Government and the previous owners, with a commitment to pay as soon as agreement has been reached.

A member of the family said Mr. Ram Merchandani, the other owner of the property, is deeply hurt and is of the opinion that how everything was done leaves a bitter and sour taste. It was said that what is more hurtful is that construction of the US$175 million Hyatt Ziva all-inclusive resort on The City site is not ready to start.

They revealed that the former Liquidation Centre owners have not received any money from the Government yet and they are being made to lose Christmas sales because of the acquisition of the building. It was noted that Government did not give an alternative property; and the former owners had asked for funds to move as well as the extension to the date they were required to leave. These were not given.

“This is torture for any person. What is detrimental to the Government that the police would come and lock up your place? Are we now living in a dictatorship? Have all citizens lost their rights?”

The point was also made that the former Liquidation Centre owners are neither against the Hyatt project nor the development of Barbados. It was stressed that the former Liquidation Centre owners entered into and are in negotiations about the property with the Government; these negotiations did not break down.