Warner acted within the law: Former Judge

Members of the Highway Re-Route Movement, led by Dr Wayne Kublalsingh

A former judge of the High Court said Friday Jack Warner acted within the law with respect the demolition of the Highway Re-Route camp in Debe last Wednesday.

Larry Lalla said "a dispassionate examination of the facts would lead one to the conclusion that Mr Warner’s effort, though perhaps misdirected and mishandled as his first official act, is legal and unobjectionable.”

Several lawyers, including Dana Seetahal and former Attorney General Ramseh L. Maharaj, have said Warner was out of line.

However Lalla said the Land Acquisition Act allows the State very wide powers of compulsory acquisition of private lands for development.

“It is virtually unarguable that use of the lands of the objecting residents of the re-route movement will be in the public’s interest," Lalla said.

“Road access to the rural parts of our country is necessary for the effective use of our lands and the mobility of our resources. The planned highway will bring new life and vibrancy to the southern parts of the country as the Government seeks to diversify the economy and make former inaccessible lands attractive to industrial planners.”

Lalla said the only issue to be decided by the State is not “should residents be relocated?” but “how much should they be paid?” 

He added, “As harsh as it may sound, the law makes no allowance for objecting residents. Any attempt to prevent the law from taking its course and to prevent the State from performing its functions is illegal.

“This point is driven home by the fact that the re-route movement has so far failed and refused to take any steps to enforce their perceived rights," Lalla added.