EMA moves to stop illegal backfilling in La Romaine

 - Marvin Hamilton
- Marvin Hamilton

The NGO FISHERMEN and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) has applauded the decision of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for starting enforcement action against a company and its director for reclamation of land at La Romaine.

Residents of the area pleaded for action to be taken to stop the illegal backfilling of the sea behind their properties along the South Trunk Road as far back as 2008.

The FFOS joined them in their efforts.

In a release on Monday, the FFOS shared correspondence it received from the EMA’s managing director Hayden Romano, who acknowledged that “appropriate enforcement action” had been taken by the authority.

Romano’s letter of March 22, said the EMA's investigations revealed that the company had breached the Environmental Management Act by conducting land reclamation activities.

Romano also identified the company in breach of the Act, and the company’s director. It was previously reported that a hardware was responsible for the illegal backfilling.

Romano also informed the FFOS that because of the ongoing works at the site, the EMA filed a notice of application at the Environmental Commission for an injunction to prevent further infractions.

A copy of the application was served on the company at its registered offices in San Fernando, Romano advised.

The action by the EMA follows the decision by the FFOS to serve the EMA with a notice of direct private party action (DPPA), letting the authority know of its intention to initiate legal proceedings against the violator at the commission.

FFOS’ secretary Gary Aboud said it was the group’s hope that the EMA has learned from its past mistakes.

“What would have happened if FFOS did not initiate legal action to command the EMA to act firmly and fairly?” he asked, reminding the authorities of their statutory duty and the need to remain independent.

On February 6, Commissioner of State Lands Bhanmatie Seecharan was said to be upset over the illegal backfilling in La Romaine, and planned to take swift action.

Seecharan told Newsday the State Lands department had written and sent several cease-and-desist warnings to the violator.

“What we realised is, he is just not taking this on, and is continuing. So we got together with the legal team and decided we will come down and literally start a process of legal action against him.”

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"EMA moves to stop illegal backfilling in La Romaine"

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