Jack Warner has dismissed statements made Monday by Opposition Leader Keith Rowley about land acquisition for the highway from Golconda to Point Fortin.
Rowley charged that the People's Partnership government has escalated the price of the land for use to build the highway from $800 million to $2.4 billion.
Rowley charged that the People's Partnership government has escalated the price of the land for use to build the highway from $800 million to $2.4 billion.
He further stated that constituents of the MPs along the route of the highway would benefit and even suggested that some of the land for which the government might acquire will not be for highway use.
"As I speak today the very same properties are valued at over $200 million. And if we wait longer I can assure you it would pass $300 million," he said.
Warner told the Trinidad Express Monday that Rowley's statements are just not true. He said the government has not done the surveys for the lands to be acquired so it is just speculation about which lands will be used and the value of the properties.
He also commented on the value of the lands. Rowley's value was based on real estate prices at the time when the previous government was planning the highway several years ago.
Warner said he cannot say whether the figure of $2.4 will be accurate. However he acknowledged that it will be higher than the original $800 million because of inflationary trends in real estate.
He noted as an example of escalating costs the value of lands to be acquired for the Mamoral Dam. Four years ago, the properties in that area were valued at $49 million.
"As I speak today the very same properties are valued at over $200 million. And if we wait longer I can assure you it would pass $300 million," he said.
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