As the C3 Centre shopping and entertainment complex rises from the ground in Ste Madeleine, houses surrounding the complex are slowly crumbling.
Residents of Merchiston Castle Street, Corinth, on the periphery of the $500 million complex say their lives have been in turmoil since the construction project started in 2013.
One resident, Kamla Ramkissoon, said a shed behind her home has collapsed while the walls and concrete fence around her property have been damaged.
Showing a ruptured sewer line behind her home, Ramkissoon said she had a proper backyard before the project was started by the Mack family, founders of JT Allum and Company. The complex houses a super JTA Supermarket, MovieTowne and several US-based outlets, including Chuck E. Cheese’s.
“Every day we smell the sewer. They fixed it and built a wooden step for us but the entire house is cracking and we cannot take this anymore,” Ramkissoon said. She added that the contractors agreed to restore her home for her but that was done verbally.
“I asked them to give it to me in black and white. I want an official agreement that they will compensate me but this has never happened and it is unfair because I can no longer enjoy my home,” Ramkissoon added.
She said her son, Mark Ramkissoon, and daughter-in-law, Ayanna Jackson, who gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend, has to vacate the house.
“The place is dusty and it is not safe for the baby. Why should we have to leave our home,” Ramkissoon added.
She also said another son. Joel Ramkissoon, and his wife, Mechelle Khan, have been renting in Princes Town. Joel said he was not comfortable with living near the construction site.
“During the day the house rocks. All the louvre panes have fallen off and any time now the house could fall. We just cannot stay in here,” Joel added.
“They put steel in my land and everywhere there is dust. It is dangerous living so close to a construction zone and even though engineers have come and viewed the damage, nobody is helping us,” he added.
The residents said they planned to go to San Fernando mayor Kazim Hosein to get assistance.
Company responds
Contacted yesterday, C3’s property manager, Terrence Ramsamooj, assured that all affected residents would be properly compensated once evidence of damage was seen.
He said at the start of construction JTA consultants did investigations and took photographs of surrounding properties.
“We have informed the residents that if they have damage to their properties it will be handled by our brokers, Ibwil. If they have estimates, they could forward it to us and we will have the insurance do their investigations, reporting and assessment and they will be compensated,” Ramsamooj said.
Saying JTA wanted to maintain a good relationship with the residents, Ramsamooj said once the project was completed, all claims would be addressed.