JOEY BARTLETT AND SUNSHINE ARTHUR

Eastside Plaza Tenants Association president Felix Hospedales is calling on Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Regis to keep her promise and help them.

Hospedales said Robinson-Regis visited the plaza late last year and promised to return to hear and help with their concerns.

He said on October 20, mall manager Dayne Francois sent a letter to the association saying the Port of Spain Shopping Complex LTD (POSSCL) board, which is responsible for the mall, no longer recognises the association as a legitimate body. He said the board have made no improvements to the plaza and management has gone silent.

Hospedales said the association was formed many years ago but was legalised in 2021 and acknowledged by the board. Speaking with Newsday on Thursday, he called the letter shocking, saying it came without warning.

Hospedales believes tenants “pressuring” the board to address their concerns played a role in the board no longer recognising the association, citing major electrical issues affecting nine businesses, leaking roofs affecting electrical panels, faulty plumbing and cracked floors. He said the women’s toilets have not worked for over two months. “Women now have to use the men’s toilet.”

He said Montgomery Guy, who is POSSCL’s new director as of 2022, shows little interest in the well-being of tenants and has only visited the plaza a handful of times. Hosepdales said tenants are frustrated and management has taken to issuing letters for unpaid rent instead of making any attempt to address their “laundry list“ of concerns.

Hospedales called for better advertising, which he believes can increase customer traffic and a proper facility that enhances the overall shopping experience and safety. He said since the covid19 pandemic, things are a lot harder, but management and the board are not working with tenants.

In a phone interview with Newsday, Guy denied the association’s claims, saying at least five discussions were held with the vendors and association.

He described Eastside Plaza as aged, and he said POSSCL has been spending money on remedial work to treat the discomfort of tenants, such as electrical and plumbing work.

“They are aware; they are informed. The board of directors met with them face-to-face at their facility and had several discussions with them in October.”

Guy said there are plans to refurbish the entire mall, but this can only be done when vendors are relocated. He said the long-term goal is a “spanking new mall.”

Despite not being able to give a time frame for the new mall, he said POSSCL is working on having vendors relocated to suitable venues.

“Our hope is that the relocation will take place before the end of the fiscal year (September), and within the new fiscal year, refurbishment works will begin.”

He denied the association’s claim that it had not been told about the plans.

He cited the merger of Eastside Mall and New City Mall as the reason the board no longer recognises the association as a legal body.

He said the board supp