It was business as usual at the Toyota Tarouba showroom yesterday as San Fernando mayor Dr Navi Muradali softened the city's approach the day after notice of illegal occupation was served on the owners.Muradali said he and the City Engineering Department had agreed to help Toyota TT Ltd get a completion certificate in time for the opening of the showroom on July 30.The notice, served by the city engineer, deemed the building illegal and ordered the owners to vacate the premises immediately and stop doing business there.
However, yesterday after talks with Toyota, the city engineer and other agencies visited the showroom to ensure all measures were in place so the completion certificate could be issued.The other agencies included the Fire Department, representatives of the Water and Sewerage Authority, the T&T Electricity Commission, public health and the engineering department.
Muradali said all of those agencies had to sign an agreement that the structure was safe and habitable for all employees and members of the public who would visit it.The Fire Services was key to receiving that certificate, he said, and must be satisfied that there was a fire escape, proper signage, extinguishers and proper exits and entrances.For too long, said the mayor, people had been violating the city codes and that posed a threat in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
Muradali said he insisted at yesterday's council meeting: "We must try to work with all our stakeholders, including investors to the city, to ensure they comply with the building code so as not to delay business."The council agreed that we would facilitate Toyota in this instance, as we will do with anyone else who may not fully understand the city's building codes."He said the council aimed to educate and inform other investors who might fall into the same problems.
"I hope good sense prevails on all sides and Toyota can have its grand opening on July 30," he added.Muradali who originally declined the car company's invitation to its opening, recanted yesterday, saying: "Once all the Is are dotted and Ts are crossed, I will be going to the opening."