By Chantalé Fletcher
MINISTER of Finance Colm Imbert says the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has no power to instruct the Commissioner of State Lands.
In response to a release by the THA on Thursday, Imbert said the impression brought forward by the THA that the Commissioner of State Lands complied to cease and desist from the acquisition proceedings for lands required for the construction of the new terminal building was inaccurate and misleading.
He said, “Further, the lands in question are urgently required for the construction of the new airport terminal in Tobago and the State has been in discussions with the occupants of these lands for the last 3 years.
“These protracted discussions have delayed the commencement of construction of the terminal building, and the cost of the delay is now costing millions of dollars.”
On Thursday, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the decision to remove seven families from their homes without being paid the value of their lands was “uncaring, sacrilegious and an insult.”
They were asked to relocate for the expansion of the ANR Robinson International Airport.
Augustine added the residents were offered an average of a menial sum of $400,000.
He said, “No piece of land down there is valued at $400,000 whatsoever.”
Farley said the THA purchased 13 acres of land in Bacolet for $33 million and lands in Bon Accord would be more expensive.
Augustine promised to stand by those affected by the project expansion but made it clear that while the new terminal was needed, persons should be dealt with fairly.
