Gulf View residents were yesterday successful in getting the court to reject a licence application to host the annual Gulf View All-Inclusive fete in their community on Saturday.
While the decision has left the promoter both surprised and disappointed, his attorney Dexter Bailey said the fete will still go on as it has been moved to Twin Walls at South Trunk Road, La Romaine.
The application was rejected by San Fernando Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John after court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan informed her that Sr Supt Cecil Santana told him new information had surfaced and as a result they (police) were now objecting to the licence being granted.
Neither the residents nor the fete promoter Andy Williams could shed any light on the new information.
Bailey said he was surprised by the police objection, since on the first and second times the application had been heard in court the police had no objection. He recalled that on the third hearing, the prosecutor said the police would only object if the promoter did not have approval from the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to increase the noise level for the fete.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, EMA deputy chairman Michael Rooplal informed the magistrate that the EMA had rejected Williams’ variation request. Bailey then sought and was granted an adjournment for yesterday to appeal the decision before the Environmental Commission.
“It surprises me now that the police has now objected to the licence. We withdrew the appeal because it would not have made any sense. We have been granted the licence for the fete to be held at Twin Walls so it is still on,” Bailey said.
The licences for Twin Walls was granted with no objection yesterday.
The residents first objected to fete when the occasional licence application came up in the First Court on January 22. Bailey, however, argued that the residents had no legal footing to object since under Section 44 of the Liquor Licences Act only the police could object.
Legal submissions were subsequently made with the residents’ attorney, Roamar Achat-Saney, arguing that their concerns must be taken into consideration when granting the licences.
Residents had filed a petition complaining about the unbearable noise, restricted access to their homes, blocking of the roads, patrons urinating on their fences and security issues.
Speaking with reporters outside the court, Sylvia Achat, 89, and her husband Roy, 90, who live on Coral Drive, next to the empty lot where the fete was to be held, said they were very happy and relieved.