EMA to resist challenge to highway extension

Attorneys representing the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) have signalled their intention to oppose leave being granted to the environmental lobby Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) to challenge Government’s proposed Churchill Roosevelt Highway extension to Manzanilla. The Ministry of Works and Transport is also resisting leave being granted.

FFOS is seeking to have the courts review the EMA’s decision to issue a certificate of environmental clearance (CEC) to the Ministry of Works to construct a 5,000-metre stretch of highway, starting at the Cumuto Main Road and ending at Guaico Trace, Sangre Grande.

In its lawsuit, FFOS contends the CEC is “unreasonable, illegal, procedurally improper, irrational, null and void and of no effect.”

As part of the judicial review claim, FFOS is also asking the court for an interim injunction to stop all expenditure and construction work on the project.

The Ministry of Works and Transport has intervened as an interested party.

At yesterday’s hearing before Justice Kevin Ramcharan in the Port of Spain High Court, attorneys for the EMA, led by Senior Counsel Deborah Peake, said they would be resisting the FFOS’

appearing with Peake for the EMA are attorneys Ravi Heffes-Doon and Amira Rahaman.

Ramcharan directed the parties to file their applications, giving the FFOS a deadline of November 16 and the EMA until November 30.

Hearing of the leave application has been set for January 15 in the Port of Spain High Court.