By Sheria Brathwaite
The owner of the Marina Bar in Bridge House, Cavans Lane, in Bridgetown has been given 14 days to remove his belongings from the property as developers get ready to start the massive Pierhead Project.
However, Troy African Hinds says his financial situation would not permit him to facilitate the move and certainly not within the requested timeframe.
The businessman has reached out to Member of Parliament for St Michael East Trevor Prescod and asked him to intervene on his behalf.
“They gave us 14 days to move all of our possessions and I don’t know how we are going to get that done because a lot of things are in there . . . I do not have any money to get the things moved. The little I had, I had to spend it over the pandemic period.
“I may have to carry this situation to court because I can’t move all the stuff I have in there in 14 days. I have about $3 million worth of things in there. Right now I am not earning any money . . . I need more time and I need money to get out of this place,” he added.
On August 28, 2020 Hinds and his wife Trisha Young-Hinds were locked out of the building they had rented for eight years.
He said that that day bailiffs entered the bar and informed staff they had to leave as it was being seized. Since then, the couple has not been able to access the bar to remove their belongings.
In October 2020 when the issue was first brought to public attention, Hinds said other tenants were given notice and had two years to move but he was not afforded the same time.
The bar contains liquor, computers, security equipment, furniture and an air duct system.
Hinds said he would have to get at least two 40-foot containers to move and store the items, based on the quantity of items remaining in the bar.
The businessman said his savings were depleted due to difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and his inability to operate the bar, which was his only source of income.
He said he was given notice last week.
“We spent a lot of money in this place, we even had an investor from Germany . . . the way how we were treated is [not fair]. There wasn’t any court order, eviction notice but they have my $25 000 deposit. I know I had owed one month’s rent and water which adds up to $10 183.
“All the staff was affected by this. I had a staff of 54 people and the government had to pay severance and $300 000 plus I have to pay back the government. It is a lot of money. So after two years and seven months they hold onto my possessions and now telling me to move my possessions in 14 days? How will I get that done and I am not earning any money at the moment?”
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
