|
Colm
Imbert
By
Gail Alexander
GOVERNMENT understands the sentimental attachment which
the Fernandes family must feel for the strip of land near
the Trinidad Country Club, which has been in the family
for many, many years, Works Minister Colm Imbert says.
But Imbert said yesterday, during the post-Cabinet media
briefing at Whitehall in Port-of-Spain, that Government
needed to acquire the land to improve road capacity in the
Maraval area.
While there may be inconvenience, he added:
“One
must balance the greater national interest against that
of one or two people, and must do it in a humane and professional
manner, so that people are properly compensated.”
Imbert questioned the cost of the current traffic situation
to the10,000 people who live in Maraval.
“We
counted how many there are...You must have a balanced perspective
on this.”
Imbert said he was not in a position to give information
on Government’s proposed acquisition of the Trinidad
Country Club site, on which to build a five-star hotel—an
issue Prime Minister Patrick Manning spoke about on Tuesday.
However, Imbert spoke about the issue involving land near
the club which Government is acquiring to ease road access
to Maraval and environs.
The strip of land near Country Club is 25-30 feet wide on
the east boundary and 30 feet on the southern boundary.
It will be used to widen the road from the KFC outlet up
to Hi-Lo in Maraval, allowing traffic exiting Maraval to
enter the St James, Boissierre and the Savannah arteries
without having to stop.
Imbert said the plan was approved by Cabinet three years
ago under the former minister. He said as MP for the area,
he had been very happy about the development.
Designs were done by local and British experts and work
was in the implementation stages. Acquisition notices went
out months ago, he added. Once the necessary notice is published,
the acquisition is completed.
“After
a certain period of time, the law allows you to enter the
property and commence work.”
Imbert said he had spoken to Country Club owner Joseph Fernandes
on the issue many times during the last 15 years:
“I
think he knew it was coming, but it is only when the day
arrives, I think, was a problem.”
Imbert said Government could not allow what had transpired
with the Guayamare highway-widening issue years ago:
“There’s
no way a country can progress if you’re sentimental
about the way in which you approach these matters—you
have to get the work done, but you must avoid being unprofessional.
We’re trying our best to be professional.”
|
