Police probing 'suspicious' Mucurapo land allocation

Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Minister Clarence Rambharat has said the police are investigating the allocation of a 10,000-square-foot parcel of state land at No 1 Mucurapo Road, St James.

He was responding to a question by Opposition Senator Wade Mark about reports that state land has been cleared by a religious organisation without the official permission of the Commissioner of State Lands.

The minister said the question related to a parcel of state land comprising 32 acres, two roods, five perches, the substantial part of which has been utilised for public purposes by the State. He said this larger parcel of land is bounded on the east by Christopher Samuel Drive, on the south by the Audrey Jeffers Highway and on the west by a road reserve.

“A portion of that state land comprising approximately five acres, together with a three-acre portion of land owned by the city of Port of Spain, has been for several years occupied and used by the trustees of the Jamaat al Muslimeen. At present the Jamaat has a masjid and ancillary business buildings on the site owned by the city corporation.

“That portion owned by the city of Port of Spain was eventually leased by the city to the trustees of the Jamaat al Muslimeen by a lease dated March 17, 1998 and registered by March 25, 1998, registration number 6176 of 1998. That lease is for a term of 25 years, renewable for a further term of 25 years. The land comprises three acres, four roods and 17 perches, and as indicated, the Jamaat has also built a secondary school and ancillary buildings on a five-acre portion of state lands in close proximity.”

Rambharat said part of the land occupied by the city houses the transportation and cleansing division and the mechanical division.

“Finally, it has been determined that a 10,000-square-foot parcel of state land in that area was allocated by a so-called tenancy agreement without the knowledge of Cabinet. The circumstances surrounding the allocation of this 10,000-square-foot parcel is being investigated by the TTPS. That parcel is in no way connected to the Jamaat al Muslimeen.”

The minister said the Commissioner of State Lands and the Director of Surveys have been instructed to survey the land, including any encroachment and squatting on the site.