Following a brief case management proceeding on Thursday, Guyana’s Chief Justice Roxane George S.C scheduled November 11, 2022, to hear oral arguments in the judicial review for the award of a Local Content Certificate to Ramps Logistics Guyana.
Until such time, attorneys for the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat as well as Ramps, a company with Trinidadian parentage, will have until October 31, 2022, to make their respective submissions to the court.
The Local Content Secretariat had denied Ramps the certificate since the information provided on the beneficial ownership of the firm as well as its share structure did not comply with the law.
Ramps was keen to note however that it provided all the documents requested by the Secretariat and appealed with the regulators to reconsider their decision. The Secretariat maintained its position and refused to do so, as such, it initiated steps for a judicial review.
The company in its application to the court said the Minister and/or the Director of the Local Content Secretariat took the decision while at the same time granting certificates to similarly structured companies and competitors of the Applicant company.
Ramps also said that the Minister and/or the Director of the Local Content Secretariat knew that their decision was likely to severely affect its business and they were aware of the losses which were suffered in the process.
Ramps said for these and other reasons it is entitled to damages against the Respondents.
Ramps is also asking the court to grant several orders, one of which declares that it is entitled to be issued with a Certificate of Registration and that it be entered into the Local Content Register.
It is also asking the court to declare that decision of the Minister and/or the Director of the Local Content Secretariat made on or about June 8, 2022 refusing to grant and/or issue a Certificate of Registration is unlawful and of no legal effect.
