Story Created:
Jan 11, 2013 at 10:55 PM ECT
Story Updated:
Jan 12, 2013 at 5:32 PM ECT
Member of Parliament for Point Fortin Paula Gopee-Scoon was yesterday ordered by the High Court to vacate a house at Clifton Hill, Point Fortin belonging to State-owned Petrotrin.
The order was made by Justice Vasheist Kokaram, who heard the lawsuit filed by Petrotrin against Gopee-Scoon, in the San Fernando Supreme Court.
Gopee-Scoon was served notice on September 29, 2011, to vacate the house by December of that year.
However, she responded by letter dated December 19, 2011, refusing to leave.
Petrotrin issued a second letter in February last year, calling on Gopee-Scoon to vacate and giving her another month to pack her belongings, before taking legal action.
A pre-action protcol letter was sent last May and Gopee-Scoon, who has a home in Westmoorings, West Trinidad, contested the lawsuit.
Petrotrin's lawyer Prakash Deonarine submitted that the company was losing $1,260 per month in rent by Gopee-Scoon's refusal to vacate the home she has occupied since being elected Member of Parliament in 2007.
The company stated that it needed the property to house its workers.
Gopee-Scoon disputed the claim, stating that she had entered into an agreement with Petrotrin in 2008, giving her the right to stay at the house.
However, Justice Kokaram ordered that Gopee-Scoon vacate the premises on or before March 9 and that the parties had to discuss Petrotrin's rental claim.
Gopee-Scoon was present in court yesterday when the order was made.
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