By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBD) has been ordered by the Court to pay private contractor Namalco Construction Services Limited more than $427 million in unpaid fees for works conducted more than seven years ago.
In a 245-page judgement on Tuesday, Justice Ricky Rahim ruled that the sum is to be paid for works in four residential communities of the former Caroni (1975) Limited.
The lawsuit was filed in 2016 for contracts for projects at Cedar Hill, Roopsingh Road, Petit Morne Page and Picton Monkey Town under which Namalco was to perform infrastructural works. These contracts were to provide serviced development plots for former employees of Caroni 1975 Limited. The works included roads, sewers and other infrastructure to serve proposed residential properties.
The contracts were intended to be short-ranged between 90 days and 18 months but lasted much longer owing to difficulties with the original surveys, design drawings and site difficulties.
In 2016, Namalco sued for sums allegedly due and owing by EMBD in relation the projects.
However, parts of Namalco’s claim as relates to the Mahaica and Brickfield projects were stayed to be heard in connection with other proceedings before the court known as the Caroni Roads Proceedings.
The judgment on Tuesday dealt with the Cedar Hill, Roopsingh Road, Petit Morne and Picton Monkey Town Projects.
Namalco was named as the main claimant against defendant EMBD.
EMBD was also named as an ancillary claimant with Andrew Walker being the first ancillary defendant, Atlantic Project Consultants Limited – second ancillary defendant, BBFL Civil Limited-third ancillary defendants and Lee Young and Partners- fourth ancillary defendants.
