CDA seeks to have military museum injunction discharged

THE Chaguaramas Military Museum will be allowed to remain at its Western Main Road location at least until May, despite an eviction order by the Chaguaramas Development Authority's (CDA).

The temporary injunction will remain in effect until May 9, when Justice Joan Charles is expected to rule on the CDA’s application to have it discharged.

At a hearing on March 10, the CDA’s attorney, Senior Counsel Justin Phelps, argued that the injunction, granted on March 7 by Justice Devindra Rampersad, had no legal basis. He further alleged that it was obtained under misleading circumstances and urged the court to expedite the matter.

Charles set dates for the filing of legal submissions and maintained that the injunction would remain in place until her ruling on May 9.

The museum’s board, represented by attorney Glen Bhagwansingh, claims it was granted a 30-year tenancy in 1991 through a Cabinet decision. Over the years, the board repeatedly sought a formal lease from the CDA, but none was ever provided.

On October 1, 2024, the CDA issued a notice to quit, ordering the museum to vacate the premises by February 28, 2025. The board applied for a 30-year lease renewal, citing another cabinet minute, but the request was denied.

The museum’s application said it was listed as a heritage property by the National Trust and houses several historical artifacts, including four consecrated memorials, a 17th-century replica, and a World War I trench system. In its legal filings, the museum’s board argued that these artifacts could not be removed and that eviction would cause irreparable damage to Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural heritage.

The museum’s board accused the CDA of forcibly taking control of the premises. According to its legal claim, on March 3, CDA officials allegedly broke the locks on the museum’s entrance gates, replaced them with their own, and stationed security guards to prevent access.

"The applicant is now fearful that historical artifacts and documents will be destroyed by the defendants. Any damage done may be of a permanent nature," the board stated in its lawsuit.

On March 8, the CDA responded, asserting that the injunction was granted without prior notice or an opportunity for the authority to be heard. It maintained confidence that once the full facts were presented, its legal position would be upheld.

“The CDA continues to discharge its statutory obligations in accordance with the law and with a view to ensuring that proper revenue is obtained from the public lands within its remit,” the authority said in a statement.