By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Dereck Singh, a resident of Lot 113 Duke Street, Kingston, is pleading for help after years of struggling with an extended fence that has blocked his private passageway. Despite possessing legal documents and city orders favoring his position, Singh says he remains “trapped” by a neighbor’s unauthorized construction, leaving him unable to move basic household items or imported goods into his own yard.
The situation highlights a growing frustration among urban residents over the enforcement of city by-laws and the perceived “deaf ears” of municipal authorities.
A Decadelong Struggle for Access
The dispute at Duke Street is not new. Documents reviewed by Nightly News show that authorities have been aware of the obstruction since at least 2009.
- The Inconvenience: Due to the compact nature of Kingston’s historic lots, Singh has no other way to bring in large items. He recounted the embarrassment and difficulty of having to beg neighbors for permission to use their private space just to move barrels and boxes shipped from overseas.
- Unauthorized Works: A formal notice from the City Engineer’s Department previously identified several breaches at the neighboring property, including:
- Construction of a concrete bridge without permission.
- Covering of drains and raising of the yard level.
- Erection of the offending fence without Mayor and City Council (M&CC) approval.
The Legal Dead-End
While the city has issued multiple statutory notices—most notably in 2019—enforcement has proven elusive.
- Court Outcome: Legal action was pursued against the neighbor, identified in documents as Rizwan Khan. however, the case was struck out in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on November 5, 2020.
- The “Private” Advice: Since the court dismissal, Singh says authorities have told him he must hire a private lawyer to settle the matter.
- The Aggrieved Stance: Singh argues that access to his own passageway is a “constitutional right” and should not require an expensive private legal battle when the city has already identified the construction as unauthorized.
Current Status: “Emptying Goods on the Road”
Without access to his passageway, Singh’s daily life is significantly hindered. He told Nightly News that when he receives shipments, he is often forced to unpack them on the public road because he cannot get them past the fence and into his yard.
“The people have been aware of this business since 2009… they send me to several places. I got things coming in the country, and I do gah empty it on the road… that is all I am asking [for my passageway],” Singh lamented.
The resident is now making a final appeal to the Mayor and City Council and the Ministry of Local Government to enforce the removal orders issued by the City Engineer’s Department years ago.
