The Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) is urging Government to take a “definitive” position on illegal development in what it said was the historic and eco-sensitive Chaguaramas.
In a statement issued yesterday, MSJ leader David Abdulah said the party was “disturbed” by statements from Planning and Development Minister, Camille Robinson-Regis, during a visit to the peninsula in July 2016, that it would be difficult to stop work already underway.
Abdulah said Robinson-Regis, also during that same visit, had said the illegality of some of the private leases issued through the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) last year but had also said it would be difficult to stop work which included a amusement park being built, following major investment.
Abdulah, who expressed concern, said that in seeking the way forward, small man businesses would be affected.
The MSJ was one of the forerunner of the Save Our Chaguaramas Committee and had been opposed to leases given to private firms and individuals, mostly in the lead up to the 2015 general election, under former planning minister Bhoe Tewarie.
The party had been at the front of a number of marches against a development plan by the then CDA, which conservationists said was contrary to the 1974 Development Plan and its stipulation that proposals for development on the peninsula must go before Parliament.
The demonstrations were in solidarity with the Guave Road Farmers and other traditional users of Chaguaramas, including organisations, such as the Military Museum, that had leases and were reportedly being pressured off the peninsula.
The CDA and chairman, Anthony Pierre, were under fire in the past week over plans to construct a hotel at the old tracking station as environmentalists have said the hotel would be devastating to wildlife, flora and fauna and citizens to who use the area for recreation have also condemned the CDA’s plans.
Pierre has said any such project would first require and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The criticisms came after the CDA on Monday placed a media ad for expression of interest (EOI) for investors/developers into the planning, design, construction and commissioning of a full service hotel at the old tracking station at Macqueripe, Chaguaramas.
The MSJ said it had noted the CDA’s recommendation to Cabinet that all leases signed in 2014 and 2015 by the previous CDA Board had been “deemed illegal and therefore null and void”, according to advice from Senior Counsel Elton Prescott, also a former Independent Senator.
“Chaguaramas is part of our patrimony and must not be allowed to be given to a few investors to profit at the expense of the “common good”,” the MSJ stated yesterday.
“We also stated that the new CDA Board must undertake its responsibilities in accordance with the law and not pursue leases/activities (such as the hotel on the site of the tracking station) that are contrary to approved land use.
“The CDA and the Ministry of Planning must start a proper process—with active stakeholder and public involvement—of updating the and have the new plan approved by Parliament before any new leases are issued. Old lease approvals—that is prior to 2010—which are in conformity with the 1974 Approved Plan could however, be considered for implementation.”
Abdulah added: “Our position was that leases were being given out by the CDA prior to Parliamentary approval of the UNC drafted ‘Master Plan’ for Chaguaramas and therefore were illegal since according to the Act governing the CDA, land use must be in accordance with a Parliament approved Development Plan.”
Condemning what it said was a “land grab” in Chaguaramas by family and friends of those in public office, the MSJ also noted the “active participation” of the Peoples National Movement (PNM) and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in a massive demonstration against illegal development on the peninsula last year.
“At the rally following that demonstration, Dr Rowley made a clear statement that if in Government after the 2015 elections his government would reverse any actions by the UNC (United National Congress) that were done illegally,” the MSJ stated.
“That time has come. The UNC ‘Draft Master Plan’ was not approved by Parliament and therefore had no legal effect. Dr Rowley and his PNM Cabinet must hold fast to their freely given public commitment,” Abdulah added.