The temporary closure of the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar has led to some 70 employees being laid off including a number from the nearby Tiger Bay community.
On Tuesday, police had seized 22 slot machines from Golden Palm Inc for which the operators of Palm Court are the principals and arrested Ryan Rahaman, the son of Managing Director Jad Rahaman. He was released from the Brickdam lock-ups shortly after 4.30 p.m. yesterday following an order granted by Chief Justice Carl Singh. The two customers who were also arrested were still in police custody.
Lawyers for the two men were yesterday afternoon still seeking their release.
They had been held for gambling.
Jad Rahaman announced that the popular nightspot would be closed until further notice.
During a visit to Tiger Bay yesterday afternoon a number of residents in the area told Stabroek News they were disappointed at the temporary closure and would not like the business to be closed permanently as many of them depended on the jobs they hold there.
In one area in Tiger Bay, residents said, there were ten persons who worked at Palm Court and they were of the opinion that the government should intervene to ensure that the place, which to them was a landmark and a positive feature in the community, should continue to operate.
Jad Rahaman yesterday told Stabroek News he was disappointed that the police took his son into custody when he was in no way responsible for the operations of the arcade, which was the bone of contention.
He felt that the manner in which the matter was being dealt with was unfair as Palm Court had moved to the High Court late last month seeking an order to bar any closure of the entity where the slot machines were used.
He also felt that the action taken against his company, when he took all measures to ensure that the facility was within the law and meant to provide entertainment to a community as well as overseas visitors, starved of entertainment, was a move meant at flexing political muscles. He did not elaborate. (Miranda La Rose)