State acquires 50% of land for Tobago airport project

The government has acquired almost 50 per cent of the land needed for the $1.2 billion ANR Robinson International Airport expansion project. A release by the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday said it approved funding for 23 more Tobago property owners in the land acquisition process in Crown Point.

Work on the airport is expected to begin in early January.

The ministry said approval of the compensation was done by Minister of Finance Colm Imbert along with the Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis.

So far, the government has successfully negotiated to acquire lands from 103 property owners and agreed $155 million in compensation. The government has now acquired 25.5 acres of the 53 acres of land required for the project, which includes construction of a new terminal.

The lands already acquired included eight commercial, 23 residential and six mixed home/business properties.

The ministry has raised $300 million for the land acquisition process.

The ministry added, "Once again, property owners who have settled with the State will be contacted by ACQ and Associates for the execution of legal indemnity agreements and collection of payments. The State will enter and take possession of settled empty lands as soon as compensation is paid.”

The National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd is continuing to issue payments of compensation through its land acquisition consultant, ACQ & Associates.