Lock down of Kalico Supermarket

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Parent Category: Sept 2011

Category: Week ending Sept 17th, 2011

Published on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 08:27

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Well-known businessman and politician, Kenny Lalsingh, has succeeded in obtaining a Court Order to remove the locks placed on his business premises by his landlord, the Grenada Co-operative Nutmeg Association (GCNA).

The order was granted to the businessman last week Friday, hours after the Director of the GCNA, Dennis Felix, took a decision to chain the door of KALICO Supermarket and Hardware Centre for outstanding monies owed in rent. Workers reported to work last week Friday morning but were surprised to see the doors to the facility chained down.

The dismayed employees remained on the compound wondering if their jobs are at risk. KALICO as well as another business - Pretty Woman - suffered the same fate as the GCNA director took action against his tenants for failure to pay rent fees.

The popular Supermarket and Hardware Centre is the largest business within the GCNA Complex. It has been operating at the facility for the past three years.

The New Today understands that the Board of Directors of the GCNA Complex took the decision to lock down the premises of KALICO following failure to pay some $345,209.10 in outstanding rent while Pretty Woman is said to be owing in excess of  $30,000.00.

GCNA warned in the notice that failure to pay the outstanding amounts within five days will result in the company taking further action in an attempt to recover the monies owed. The notice claimed that KALICO Shopping Centre was given up to September 01, to pay these outstanding monies but failed to do so.

In a telephone interview with Lalsingh on Monday, he told The New Today that the Court granted him permission to enter his business place and conduct business as usual. Well-placed sources told this newspaper that the action was filed on behalf of Lalsingh by Queen's Counsel, Dr, Francis Alexis.

Lalsingh said that his intention is to undertake an immediate sale of items at his establishment and to vacate the premises at the end of the week. According to the businessman who is from St. Patrick's, he had notified GCNA of his intention to leave the Complex at the end of the month and believed that is what led to the action being taken against him by the Director of the nutmeg body.

Lalsingh said he is still to determine where or if his business will be relocated in the city. On the issue of the outstanding amounts owed to GCNA, he declined to comment specifically about the issue but told the newspaper that he intends to proceed with legal action against the Association.

"It is an ongoing legal matter", said the business operator who is now a frontline member of the main opposition, New National Party (NNP). When contacted by The New Today, both Terra Caribbean, agents for the GCNA Complex as well as the GCNA itself refused to comment of the lock-down matter.

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