‘Stop treating us like gullible illiterates’

Kinnesha George-Harry

Residents and owners of land which the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) last Monday declared would be subject to voluntary acquisition for a new airport terminal, are calling for more information, especially for details of the project, and why the need for 84 acres of land.

The THA told residents at a public consultation at Rovanels Resort that Government would be acquiring the land for construction – 84 acres – to build a new $500 million terminal building for the ANR Robinson International airport and that construction was to begin in December. The land in question spans the area south of Store Bay Local Road between Gaskin Bay Road on the east and Store Bay Feeder Road on the west.

The THA said 120 property owners will be affected.

On Saturday, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, residents called for full disclosure of plans for the terminal, asking why the Government requires so much land for the project.

“We want to see the plan, that is what they should have shown us at the consultation. They want us to move, we understand that part, but up to now they have not explained why they need an entire 84 acres, neither why an entire 120 homeowners will be affected.

“We want to see the actual layout and we need more information, someone who has all the details need to come to us,” one resident told Newsday Tobago during a visit to the area.

Another resident was unhappy with manner in which the residents are being treated and the process employed to inform them that they have to move to make way for the terminal building.

“They (authorities) will never understand the pain of the residents in this area and no money in the world can buy the sentimental value of our fore-parents’ blood, sweat and tears. This dictatorship ruling of our country will not work…

“We, as citizens, are all for progress but at what cost? Many of us have now started progress in our lives only to meet regression. Stop trying to take Tobagonians for fools and tell the puppeteers we will not be rushed to move from our homes in six months by scaring us with compulsory acquisition,” the resident said.

She contended that lower income persons in the community were the target of this voluntary acquisition of their property by the Government.

“There is the sea that can be developed like the governments before have done to create Scarborough, likewise other viable lands. Why are lands from Kilygwn to Crown Point needed? What are you all really intending to build? Why is Rovanels and Kariwak left out? Why these specific lands? Show us the structural plans and layout, be honest and stop trying to treat us as gullible illiterates who cannot see that they are being misled,” she said.

Yet another resident questioned the suddenness of plans to construct the terminal, suggesting that this was being done only to accommodate the ‘Sandals’ deal.

“With the speed that they just pick up, it is my belief that this is the only way the Sandals deal will go forward. I have been paying attention and it is my understanding that the Government must meet certain criteria and that includes upgrading the airport, but they are not outright linking it to that Sandals project, but I know it is because of Sandals,” she said.

One resident, who identified herself as Marjorie, told Newsday Tobago:

“Monday (last) was the first time we were ever hearing about the date for the construction and the fact that we have to move. Houses take on average six months to build, they have not addressed us on the issue of compensation to date, yet they want us to move because they would be starting their construction in December, that is really unfair,” she said.

Marjorie, of the referring to subsequent consultations with property owners during the week, following last Monday’s public consultation, said one of the proposals THA officials put on the table was that persons could look for places to rent and Government would pay their rent for three years.

“They need to go back to the drawing board and come again, I am still clueless,” she said.

“They promised that they would talk to all the home owners on a one-on-one basis, they have not done that as yet, but during the consultations, they said that lands are available at Friendship and Shirvan but it needs to be developed.

“The representative for the area, Clarence Jacob. he was there, and he pointed to the fact that he is the Secretary of Housing and said that the lands will be developed, and we would be given first preference. He even said that it doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone will be moved at the same time because they may be able to do the work in phases,” she said.

Marjorie also said the THA told property owners that Government would provide its evaluators to assess the value of the lands.

“They said that they would give you what the property is worth but at the end of the day, it is a scary situation. I recall the first set of works at that very airport where people were forced to move and to date, many of them have not received compensation,” she reminded.

One businessman in the area man said that he was willing to wait out the process.

“To me, the process is sounding promising, while at the same time, it might not be, but I prefer to wait it out and see what is happening.

“I expected that first meeting to give us further information on the plan for the area, the compensation and all other pertinent information that would benefit us but to me the commentators did not have all the relevant information, so I guess we would have a follow up meeting shortly,” he said.

Airports Authority Project Consultant Patrick Drakes, who made a presentation at last Monday’s public consultation, showed parcel of land earmarked for acquisition, and said the terminal needed to be build for the airport to be fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards and recommended practices to facilitate large aircraft.