Port, MovieTowne security in showdown over office door

Asha Javeed

The Port of Spain Infrastructure Company (POSINCO) has condemned the action taken by Derek Chin, the major shareholder of MovieTowne and its leaseholder, the Trinbago Commercial Development Company Ltd (TCDC), to seek to enter the premises with armed security officers yesterday.

According to POSINCO, Chin had to get approval from the court and at this time, there is no lease with TCDC.

Since August 23, when POSINCO exercised its right to re-enter the compound, it has had officers stationed at the administration officers and the banquet hall.

Around noon on Friday, Chin and officers of his security company, Telecom Security, which also manages the security around MovieTowne, went to the administration offices of MovieTowne and sought entry.

The clash was recorded on telephones by both Chin’s security and port security and posted shared widely on social media.

In the video, Chin’s officers, while seeking entry are heard telling port officers that they are armed.

“Most of us have firearms,” the officer said.

In response, the port officer is heard saying he has a job to do. After two minutes, he calls Port management and is told to hold his ground.

The Port then contacted the T&T Police Service (TTPS) who handled the matter.

In a statement, POSINCO said it was forced to contact the TTPS after security officers of Telecom Security Services began issuing threats of violence against them.

It said that POSINCO had complied with the conditions of an order handed down on Monday by the High Court, which called on POSINCO to not interfere with MovieTowne’s operations, nor that of its tenants, while the substantive matter between POSINCO and the TCDC is heard.

“Unfortunately, TCDC and Mr Chin have failed to cooperate and have sought to thwart all efforts by representatives of POSINCO in the execution of their duties. POSINCO takes this opportunity to call on TCDC to allow good sense and cool heads to prevail given that the matter is currently before the Court,” the statement said.

Chin responds

Chin said the POSINCO statement was “all lies.”

He said, “They are desperate. We wanted the front door to our offices closed for confidential and air conditioning reasons. There is no need for the port security which sit outside our offices to want to come into our offices. As a matter of fact, that’s interference in our operations and in direct conflict with the court order that was issued by Justice Honeywell. The port security decided not to allow us to close our office door. Our officers are not armed but the port big boy is. He threatened the Telecom officer to discharge his weapon if we tried to close the door. In addition, they placed a cardboard box to keep the door open.

“Also the port again refused to accept another cheque which has been the case all along until they get the full amount and that which is disputed in the courts now.

“They intimidate my staff all day and have no reason to have access to our office where things can be stolen and where we keep our confidential files.

“They have also allowed us access between 8 am to 4 pm and demand we leave after 4. MovieTowne is not a 8-4 business as you well know. Last night, we had an event that ended at 11 pm. Our staff needed to access our offices, same for our banquet centre. So if they feel they have the right to occupy, they certainly are abusing the court order issued by Justice Honeywell,” he said.

Tenants seek legal advice

Meanwhile, MovieTowne’s tenants are seeking legal advice on to whom they have to pay their rent. As it stands, the court has $3 million in escrow, as the dispute continues with the POSINCO, which manages land held by the Port Authority of T&T (PATT), and TCDC.

High Court Judge Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell has left it open to them to make their payments to either of the companies or the court while the dispute is being determined.

Since May 2021, TCDC has not paid any rent to the PATT and has accrued a debt of $10,904,121.23.

In its substantive lawsuit, TCDC is challenging the latest rental increase, which was based on a report prepared by registered valuation surveyor GA Farrell & Associates.

Chin, in an interview with Power 102 said that TCDC was in disagreement with the evaluation because the buildings which he constructed were included. This, he said, is why they had not paid any rent.

For his part, Port Authority chairman Lyle Alexander said that TCDC chose not to pay any rent, even if they disputed the sum.

He said that not paying any rent at all allows the landlord the right to remedy issues.

In this instance, it was re-entry into the property.

In May, Guardian Media exclusively reported that the cinema complex owed the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) $93 million in unpaid taxes and penalties which spanned a period of 20 years. MovieTowne is 21 years old.

He told Power 102 that he was guilty of not filing its tax returns in a timely manner over a 20 year period and blamed his accountants.

“We have the $93 million, of which $60 million is the interest alone. The amount has to be contested which we have shown them. Yes we were guilty in terms of not filing our returns but we talking about 20 years” Chin said on the matter.

The post Port, MovieTowne security in showdown over office door first appeared on CNC3.