The Port-of-Spain City Corporation now has an injunction preventing Alfred Galy from carrying out any further demolition work at Greyfriars Church, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, but that move is being viewed as an act of provocation. In an interview at his office yesterday, Galy described it as “vindictive and wicked.”
Lawyers for the corporation—John Jeremie, SC, Kerwyn Garcia and Kahaya Nanhu—went before Justice Ricky Rahim at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday night and obtained the court order. No date has been fixed for the matter to be heard. The injunction has upset Galy. He warned: “I was asked to hold my hand and not clear the site which I have complied with but in the present circumstances I may have to reconsider...”
He confirmed the injunction had been served on him around 2 pm during a meeting with Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development, Dr Bhoe Tewarie, at the Parliament chamber. Galy said the injunction “restricts me from knocking down the already crumbling church.” He bought the disused, deconsecrated church in August. Galy, a businessman, said then he had bought it for its sentimental value but also said there was “nothing classic” about it.
Since then he has twice made attempts to demolish it. The church hall was knocked down last Sunday as well as one wall of the church and part of the roof. Declining to reveal any details of his meeting with Tewarie, Galy said he also was presented with a “draft commitment copy” that he would not carry out any further work at the site until an agreement had been finalised. He said the documents he received had since been forwarded to his attorney for advice.
Referring to the continuing discussions, Galy said: “It’s reached the point where we are almost at an agreement on the fundamental issues. The minister (Tewarie) has promised to take it to the next Cabinet meeting. “In the meantime, I have decided not to take any further action.” Members of the National Trust and the NGO Citizens for Conservation have both appealed to Galy not to remove the debris as they hope to salvage items that could be used in the restoration of the 180-year-old former church.