New injunction against PTSC for locking out PBR vendors

EVEN as an injunction against the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) was scheduled for hearing yesterday in the High Court, more vendors have been locked out at priority bus route malls in Curepe, San Juan and Tunapuna.

The injunction came up for hearing before Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh in the San Fernando High Court, where attorney for the vendor, Michael Rooplal announced to the judge that he was forced to file another injunction after vendors from those PBR malls were evicted and their goods padlocked.

The lockout happened last week Wednesday, Rooplal told Boodoosingh.

He asked for the new injunction to be joined to the existing one which represents PBR vendors from Port of Spain to Arima in respect of their refusal to pay a 100 per cent rent increase. Two weeks before Christmas, the PTSC served the tenants quit notices to vacate by December 31 for failing to pay the rent.

The PTSC increased the rent from $7 to $14 per square foot. In granting an injunction, Boodoosingh had deemed the matter a priority and fixed hearing for yesterday.

Attorney Elena Araujo announced her appearance for PTSC and told Boodoosingh external counsel will be retained to argue the injunction. Rooplal and David-Mark Kidney, instructed by Vishan Girwar, represented the vendors.

The judge gave directions for the PTSC to file affidavits in reply by January 21 and for the vendors to respond by January 28. He set trial for Feburary 28 and ordered the injunction preventing the PTSC from evicting the tenants, to continue.