The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

SOME roadside garage operators are open but sceptical about the Davis administration’s desire to relocate such businesses from residential areas to designated zones, raising concerns over costs, space limitations, and unfulfilled promises from previous initiatives.

Works Minister Clay Sweeting told The Tribune earlier this week that the government secured Crown land to relocate roadside garages, aiming to regulate businesses operating in residential areas.

He said an inter-ministerial committee is engaging with business owners to develop a structured relocation plan, prioritising the largest operations.

He said discussions to fix the frustrating problem are ongoing, and no official policy had been finalised.

Andre Thompson, a mechanic who operates in a residential area without the necessary licenses, supported the move but stressed the need for government assistance.

“I work in a residential area without the necessary licences because there was no alternative,” he told The Tribune yesterday. “It would be good if the government helped people like me transition to a proper facility so we could all work together in a better system.”

He emphasised the challenges mechanics face when working in residential areas, saying that keeping good relations with neighbours is critical to maintaining operations.

“In working in a residential area, you try to keep vehicles at a minimum and avoid annoying neighbours, but if mechanics let vehicles take over the streets and cause congestion, then that becomes an issue,” he said.

Another garage operator, Alexander Smith, said he remained open to relocation but believed affordability and space remained major concerns.

“If the price was reasonable and they spread us out properly, then it could work,” he said. “But if they packed us into one small area, that would be a problem.”

He pointed to past attempts at specifying designated spaces for mechanics, saying discussions took place, but no action followed.

“There was supposed to be property on Gladstone Road for this, but it never came through. They talked about it several times, but nothing happened,” he said.

Ricardo Major, who owns a roadside mechanic shop but specialises more in air conditioning and refrigeration repairs, expressed scepticism about the government’s push to relocate auto repair businesses. 

While acknowledging the benefits for some, he questioned whether the move made sense for smaller operators like himself.

“You know, it sounds good, but at the end of the day, you’re just managing to keep your head above water,” he said, adding that his operation was minimal, servicing only a few vehicles per month.

“We just fix cars, but not every day. Some people bring their car, and we fix it for them. We’ll probably have three cars for the month,” he added.

He admitted that moving his business at this stage of life was not a priority.

“I’m 60 years old. I don’t have any time for that. If I was younger, then yeah,” Mr Major said.