Different strokes by Town and Country

THE EDITOR: When my husband was planning to buy land and construct a dwelling for his family, there was this institution known as the Town and Country Planning Division where he had to go for approval.

It said that for a building to be constructed next to a highway a direct access cannot be had from the highway and he had to find an alternate access to the house. Furthermore, the house could only be built after fifty feet was left from said highway. That which I relate was in the seventies and I am wondering if all that has changed and it is now possible to go directly into one’s property from the highway.

One day I was passing on the Uriah Butler Highway going south and I saw a huge building owned by a prominent Credit Union which is spreading itself faster than a bush fire in the dry season. I remembered the law which we had to abide by and I wondered how it was that a ramp was erected on the drain leading from the highway, directly into the premises of the Credit Union building on which vehicles could pass. There were vehicles parked on the premises and the gate was wide open so it was obvious that no alternate road was utilised. A little way further on the same Highway, another construction site was being prepared and there the drain leasing from the highway to the property was filled with dirt. Another little way further there was a house nicely fenced with a gate. Distinct road marks were seen from the highway to the gate of the house. I could be wrong in bringing this up, as no one else seems to be bothered.

All kinds of professional and knowledgeable people pass on this highway daily and not a thing is heard of this. I remember not long ago the proprietor of a popular roti shop along the said highway, located not too far from the objects of my observations, was prosecuted by the upholders of the law for having access to the roti shop from the highway. They destroyed his bridge and installed pillars in front of his shop. I would really appreciate your reporters tearing themselves from Laventille and just spending a small amount of time pursuing this query of mine. I am sure if I wrote to the Town and Country division they would ignore my letter since the Credit Union probably has friends there.

SUE SANKAR
Chaguanas