The Estate Management Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD) said Sunday the new camp erected by the Highway Re-Route Movement in Debe is on its property and must come down.
The movement set up the camp over the weekend to continue its protest against the construction of the highway to Point Fortin along its present route. However when EMBD workers showed to tear down the camp outside the Debe Wholesale Market on the M2 Ring Road they were told that the police commissioner had to give instructions to demolish the camp.
The leader of the Re-Route Movement, Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, claims that the new camp is not on State land designated for the construction of the highway.
He said once a State agency can prove it owns the land the group would move.
The Express newspaper said an employee of the EMBD confirmed that the camp is on EMBD lands.
Kublalsingh has suggested that the group could camp outside Parliament or other near national sites such as the Hall of Justice or the office of the Prime Minister. He has also suggested building a camp near the private residence of the Prime Minister in Phillipine, South Trinidad.
Kublalsingh said, "Once we are given legal notice, we will leave the camp. The proper thing to do would be to have dialogue with us and tell us why they (EMBD) sought the consultation with the Commissioner of State Lands and show us who the owners of the land are. I think the State must also comply with its own laws."
Kublalsingh has suggested that the group could camp outside Parliament or other near national sites such as the Hall of Justice or the office of the Prime Minister. He has also suggested building a camp near the private residence of the Prime Minister in Phillipine, South Trinidad.
Kublalsingh said, "Once we are given legal notice, we will leave the camp. The proper thing to do would be to have dialogue with us and tell us why they (EMBD) sought the consultation with the Commissioner of State Lands and show us who the owners of the land are. I think the State must also comply with its own laws."
While the Kublalsingh group is pushing ahead with its agenda, citizens in the dispute area are mounting their own movement to support the government.
The MP for the area, Roodal Moonilal, told the Express, "I have been informed that several groups in the community have taken action to erect banners in support of the highway and Mr Warner."
He added, "This is a development that I anticipated months ago and I hope that it will not lead to any confrontation between groups of residents in the Oropouche East area and those persons protesting against the construction of the highway."
He appealed to all residents to maintain the peace and remain calm. "While we may have differing views on government policy, I trust that these views will not escalate into any type of confrontation between those who are objecting to the highway and those who are in support of the construction of the highway."
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