The Couva Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce (CPLCC) is appealing to landlords to give commercial tenants a chance.
The appeal was made by president of the CPLCC Mukesh Ramsingh as he fielded questions from Guardian Media yesterday at the Chamber’s offices, at Camden, Couva.
Ramsingh was asked to comment on the recent closure of one of Couva’s biggest restaurant and several small businesses in the area.
Ramsingh said many small businesses are folding because they are unable to pay rent and other business charges.
Ramsingh said, “We ask the landlords to think wisely because when your customers leave you are going to have to bring somebody new and I think the risk of bringing somebody new in this climate is very difficult, stick with the people you know and work together with them.”
Ramsingh also asked that Government look at deferring taxes and levies until the economy starts moving again.
Sham Ramkissoon, the owner and manager of J-ZZ’s Restaurant, on the Southern Main Road, Couva, said he has no choice but to fold operations and sell his business.
Ramkissoon said the property and investment had cost him $25 million and he hoped to get around $15-17 million if the property is sold.
Ramkissoon said he is not happy with the way the food service industry has been treated since March 2020.
He said the banks have no compassion for businessmen neither does the Government who is demanding taxes, green fund levy and other charges.
Ramkisson said coupled with utility bills many have folded operations.
Ramkisson said, “The Government have to tell the banks ease we up. On the other hand T&TEC,we have to pay bills, we have fridge running, we not getting an ease up on VAT, we not getting an ease up on PAYE, we not getting an ease up on Taxes and you have to pay green fund levy, business running, business not running.”
Ramkissoon said all of his trained staff of 25 have gone their separate ways seeking stable employment elsewhere.
“They put guidelines to operate under and they close we down again. It makes no sense we run business, we have to close. It has become too stressful to start all over again,” he said.
Ramkissoon said since the start of the pandemic he has lost around $4 million.
Dipchand Persad, the owner of Passage to Asia said he is contemplating closing his operations on Ariapita Avenue, Port-of-Spain.
Persad said, “I am paying $15,000 plus VAT in monthly rent for the place in Port of Spain and I am not earning any money. To set up the Port-of-Spain branch cost me around $1.5 million.
Now the industry is closed, the banks are squeezing us. The utilities as WASA and TTEC want their monies. I have to pay $105,000 a month in mortgage to the bank for the restaurant at Chaguanas, we are working on fumes, with no monies coming in. People may be forced to close because the Government is not assisting, and when all small business collapse the banks will seize the assets and divide the spoils and we would once be left on the streets to start over, unfortunately some may never restart.”
Persad said he has had to lay off 20 workers and an additional 30 may be sent home once the Port-of-Spain branch folds.
