The Mayor of Port of Spain told reporters Monday the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is trying to take ownership of lands that rightfully belong to the city.
Louis Lee Singh made the comments at a news conference. He said land ast Foreshore Invaders Bay and Cocorite do not belong to WASA.
He claimed that WASA is trying to develop the water resources in the disputed areas without without consultation and approval of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation.
WASA issued a statement on Saturday claiming ownership and sole responsibility of the lands under the WASA Act of 1965.
The WASA statement said: “The 23 acre parcel of land in question was vested in the Authority by statutory conveyance pursuant to Section 11 of the Water and Sewerage Authority Act of 1965.
"The site is a lucrative wellfield with 35 artesian wells, which was first brought into operation in 1922; and which the Authority is seeking to gradually return to active production in an effort to improve the water supply to communities in the Port of Spain and Diego Martin areas.
"Operation of the well field was temporarily discontinued in 1992 due to the intrusion of salt water in the aquifer. Only recently in 2010, the Authority sought to reactivate the Cocorite Farrell Well Field. The Water Resources Agency is also currently undertaking ground water monitoring to identify salt or freshwater interface and aquifer water levels.”
Lee Sing said “having a few wells” on the land did not give WASA ownership of the entire property.
“WASA has wells in the Queen’s Park Savannah and King George V Park, why do they not claim ownership of those lands?” asked Lee Sing.
The mayor said the land in question belongs to the city of Port-of-Spain and as such could not just be given to WASA.
“This is still a democratic society and the courts still hold supremacy to Parliament,” Lee Sing.
“Invaders Bay belongs to the city of Port-of-Spain and yet here is development being proposed without any discussion with the corporation, these lands cannot be developed without the assent of the city corporation,” he said.
Minister of Planning Bhoe Tewarie told the Guardian newspaper as far as he is aware Invaders Bay was not vested in the city of Port-of-Spain. He said he plans to speak to the mayor about the Invaders Bay development and the development of the city of Port-of-Spain.
Louis Lee Singh made the comments at a news conference. He said land ast Foreshore Invaders Bay and Cocorite do not belong to WASA.
He claimed that WASA is trying to develop the water resources in the disputed areas without without consultation and approval of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation.
WASA issued a statement on Saturday claiming ownership and sole responsibility of the lands under the WASA Act of 1965.
The WASA statement said: “The 23 acre parcel of land in question was vested in the Authority by statutory conveyance pursuant to Section 11 of the Water and Sewerage Authority Act of 1965.
"The site is a lucrative wellfield with 35 artesian wells, which was first brought into operation in 1922; and which the Authority is seeking to gradually return to active production in an effort to improve the water supply to communities in the Port of Spain and Diego Martin areas.
"Operation of the well field was temporarily discontinued in 1992 due to the intrusion of salt water in the aquifer. Only recently in 2010, the Authority sought to reactivate the Cocorite Farrell Well Field. The Water Resources Agency is also currently undertaking ground water monitoring to identify salt or freshwater interface and aquifer water levels.”
Lee Sing said “having a few wells” on the land did not give WASA ownership of the entire property.
“WASA has wells in the Queen’s Park Savannah and King George V Park, why do they not claim ownership of those lands?” asked Lee Sing.
The mayor said the land in question belongs to the city of Port-of-Spain and as such could not just be given to WASA.
“This is still a democratic society and the courts still hold supremacy to Parliament,” Lee Sing.
“Invaders Bay belongs to the city of Port-of-Spain and yet here is development being proposed without any discussion with the corporation, these lands cannot be developed without the assent of the city corporation,” he said.
Minister of Planning Bhoe Tewarie told the Guardian newspaper as far as he is aware Invaders Bay was not vested in the city of Port-of-Spain. He said he plans to speak to the mayor about the Invaders Bay development and the development of the city of Port-of-Spain.
No comments:
Post a Comment