Scrapyard owner Mohammed Adam felt aggrieved after 16 of his derelict vehicles were removed from his property yesterday under orders from the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
Adam, who owns a scrapyard business and car rental company, stood by helplessly as police and members of St Mark’s Trucking and Rental descended upon the property in Lakes Folly, The City, crushing and collecting whatever shells remained of the derelict vehicles.
The cars were previously spray painted with the “MOH” tag, traditionally used by the Ministry of Health to identify structures marked for demolition or removal. While Adam acknowledged that he was slow in maintaining the upkeep of the area, he insisted that he always intended to clean up the site.
“I don’t mind that. That is their right. I was cleaning it on my own but indeed, I was slow. I put the cars there one day because I brought them out here to scrap them out and the very next day they came and put MOH on it,” Adam said.
“One of the cars that was here was completely sealed, and the Ministry of Health told us that once the vehicle is completely sealed and it has all doors, water cannot get in, rats cannot get in. It is no problem. I always maintained the area and the cars were never an issue, those that were a health hazard were being dealt with,” he added.
The scrapyard owner’s main grouse, however, was that the proprietor of St Mark’s Trucking was the person conducting the removal.
He claimed there was a personal issue between them and he preferred if another contractor was assigned to the job..
“We asked them to move one of the vehicles and while I was getting my vehicle to come and move it, the man crushed the vehicle right in front of me.
Tell me if this is not a conflict of interest. I told the police, I don’t mind you moving the vehicle, because that is your right, but send somebody else,” he stated.
The proprietor of St Mark’s Trucking, who was on hand, however denied any bad blood between him and Adam saying he had never met the man before yesterday, nor did he ever visit that area prior to yesterday.
“This is my job moving old cars and old houses. This is the first time I move vehicles around here. Since I came here nobody had any issue or quarrel with me,” he said.
A resident who lived next to the junkyard said that the vehicles were a cause of concern for well over a year.
“The main issue is that these derelict vehicles are not covered, they are totally opened, parts are strewn all over the area and of course they are susceptible to rainfall, mosquitoes, rodents, usual things. “If you have elderly people living around you it’s a big risk, especially with dengue fever and other things,” he said.
( JRN)