Tensions rise over store placement along Hague highway

WESTERN BUREAU:

Tension is rising between the Trelawny Municipal Corporation and businessman Rushane Taylor over the placement of his storefront along the highway in Hague.

Taylor, the sole proprietor of the Trelawny-based companies R Taylor Together Forever Builders Construction Limited and Taylor Nation Moulding and Decor, told The Gleaner that he was served a cease-and-desist notice, from the municipality, approximately two weeks ago.

He further said that he was given a 30-day notice to demolish the structure on May 10.

The storefront at the middle of the dispute is being housed on a leased property, Taylor explained. The businessman shared that he utilised the rented space to showcase concrete columns, balusters, and other construction materials to interested buyers travelling along the main road.

In addition to the concrete structures on the property, Taylor operates his office space from an old bus, which has been retrofitted with tables and chairs. This, he said, cost approximately $4.5 million.

However, while sharing that his plight with the municipal corporation began earlier in May, Taylor told The Gleaner that he believed that he was being targeted after a business relationship went sour. The businessman alleges that prior to opening his storefront two months ago, he worked closely with two politicians who operate a hardware store in the parish.

While he did not name the politicians, Taylor alleges that they are a sitting councillor and a member of parliament (MP) in eastern Jamaica.

“I used to do business with them, but we didn’t have a contract. A friend of mine introduced me to them, and we started to do some business. They used to sell columns and balusters for me. They would get their commission, and the rest of funds were paid over to me,” he admitted.

“Things weren’t going well because they wanted to buy my business, and I refused to sell my business, so they told me that I had to leave.”

‘Death threats’

Frustrated by what he believes is a direct attack on his business, Taylor posted videos on various social media platforms detailing his ordeal.

“It didn’t stop there because then I started to get death threats,” he shared.

At the same time, Taylor said that his landlady has since asked him to move from her property even though he signed a five-year lease.

“They even cut off the lights that I use to run my shop, so I don’t even have any power right now.”

The businessman, in the meantime, is pleading for the assistance of Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the handling of the matter.

“That is why I really want to reach out to the prime minister to just come here and see what I’m doing here as a young man. Ask them to just give me some time. If I get two years here, I can make back my money, and I can leave Trelawny.”

When contacted by The Gleaner, Winston Palmer, CEO of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, said that he was “not aware of anything to do with any politicians”.

He stated, however, that the businessman had been served a notice to move from the location as he was never given permission to erect a structure there.

“There is no toilet facility or any entrance to and from the highway,” Palmer explained.

Collen Gager, mayor of Falmouth, also pointed out that the location was a hotspot for motor vehicular accidents in the parish. He told our news team that while he supported Taylor’s business venture, the municipality could not ignore the possibilities of accidents and other casualties that might arise based on the location.

“He was served notice by the municipal corporation because while he is producing some very good products, he has gone on the highway, and there is no access for road from the highway,” Gager stated.

“So, therefore, he would be creating his own access. What we are saying to him is try and find a location that would be able to showcase those sorts of things and not on the highway.

“You ought to remember, too, that area is a hotspot for accidents,” Gager told The Gleaner.

Gager further shared that the municipality had also brought another business owner before the court for a similar incident.

“We have also had a court case just up the road. We had gone for the demolition of a structure, and the judge has ordered the demolition.

“We want to make sure that we are treating everybody the same so that they can’t say that we are bias.”

While noting that the municipality is willing to work with the businessman, Gager is encouraging Taylor to reach out to the local authority to work on a plan to move the storefront.

“He can talk to us, and we look and see if there is somewhere that could be found for him, but not on the highway,” he maintained.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com