Crown Point residents: "Where are we going"

“Time is ticking, where are we going”

So asks residents of Crown Point on Thursday as they staged another silent protest along Store Bay Local Road, up the Crown Point main road and through Four Roads all downed in placards.

“We are hearing different responses to the request of the residents when it comes to resettlement and compensation. The conversation that is out there speaks greatly to the progress of the airport terminal building and its construction, but the information is very lacking on the residents side, in terms of the resettlements of the residents and what their compensation packages are,” spokesperson for the group, Rhonda Hackett told Newsday in an interview.

Hackett noted that to date, residents have been given section three notices and they also have been informed that they would be issued a section four notice in the upcoming months and must be evacuated by November, so that construction can begin. But she still remains puzzled as no one is speaking about the plans for the residents.... would they be given compensation only, will they be afforded houses they can call homes or even lands to start all over.

“Last year they (the THA and the Airports Authority) came and they gave the same timelines, we did indicate that the timeline was inadequate, its unreasonable. We also asked if it’s the six months timeframe, would lands be subdivided and homes be built for persons who want this. We were told that this expectation is unreasonable as it cannot happen within six months. But here we are again, given another six months’ timeframe and we haven’t seen a site cleared or a surface scratched for construction for resettlement. So it is frightening, people need a home to go to but as it is right now we are hearing that they intend to give persons money, you can’t bathe with money, you can’t sleep with money... the comfort of having your homes is been threatened,” she said.

The spokesperson said that the residents requested land and money, but to date they have heard nothing in that regard.

She emphasized that no one is against the construction of the new terminal building and its associated works, adding that as a matter of fact, they welcomed the much-needed development.

“It is not that we don’t want the terminal... we are also seeking the humanitarian side and are concerned for the future and wellbeing both of the residents and their future generations. I have seen an excellent model that shows you the detail and intricacies of the airport terminal... It is beautiful, I love it, I must admit... my challenge is where is the model that show the area for the resettlement... a planned modern settlement that shows space for residential use, be it a preschool, a park; where is that model, we would love to see that also.

“We are not hearing that aspect of the conversation... I have heard from the Chief Secretary that they are planning to meet with the residents one on one, that is a known expectation. At the closer end of the negotiation, we do know that persons would meet one on one to finalise their negotiation and package. However, we are saying please come forward as the Government and share with the people more detail in terms of the policy that speaks about resettlement and compensation,” Hackett said.

Speaking during a Nidco stakeholder meeting on April 5, Nidco’s vice president, Engineering and Programme Management Steve Garibsingh explained to residents the results of social surveys conducted by ACQ and Associates between February 18 and March 30 in Crown Point.

He said 92 parcels of land were identified over the 53 acres to be acquired. He said Section Three legal notices were issued to all landowners and, after surveys and studies are completed, the next step will be the publication of the Section Four legal notice, which allows the state to take possession of the property.

Garibsingh said in the negotiation stage, the owner may apply for up to 80 per cent of the Commissioner of Valuations prior estimate of the property. Upon settlement, the landowner can submit claim for the outstanding 20 per cent of the compensation. He said the landowner will then have to vacate the property.

While, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles whilst addressing the issue at last Wednesday’s post-Executive Council media briefing in Scarborough stated that the THA Executive Council has approved a policy position on its intervention to ensure a smooth transition for residents affected by the construction of a new terminal.

Without going in-depth, Charles said the proposals would speak to provisions of land for the three categories for people who want to use that option.