Trincity Mall tenants complain about mall fees

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PETER CHRISTOPHER

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Trincity Mall tenants are urging the government to take a second look at the restrictions concerning shopping malls as this country currently has no active confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Several tenants at the mall have again expressed concerns about their ability to pay Common Area Maintenance charges, which they are still required to pay despite being unable to conduct business at their stores.

Shopping Malls are listed to be reopened in Phase Four of the government’s post-COVID plans, alongside beaches.

The food outlets, grocery, and pharmacy at the mall are currently open as they have been granted permission under the Public Health Ordinance.

Several store owners, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they continue to face exorbitant charges and without any business coming in, the strain may be too much for store owners to return to business when the lockdown is lifted.

President of the San Juan Business Association, Vivek Charran, who is one of the mall tenants says this uncertainty is fueling fear among store owners.

“To be honest it’s really tough, I don’t think there is a scenario where. I think it varies from mall to mall what concessions they are giving. I think some malls are giving better concessions than others. I feel the situation with Trincity Mall is quite simply that many of the larger people have to pay CAM charges, for example, some of the CAM charges they may have to pay still amount to about $40,000 a month,” he said.

Some owners say in addition to the mall charges, some are still attempting to pay their staff without any income coming into them.