Penal residents say no to hi-way

A number of residents who live along the proposed pathway are earmarked for relocation to facilitate the highway’s construction.

Brush cutting of small plots of land by Trintoplan Consultants to facilitate surveys began last month.

However, more than 150 residents have complained that their foodcrops have been destroyed, and last week Tuesday they took protest action outside Trintoplan’s Orange Grove offices.

Last week Thursday, officials of the Ministry of Works and Trintoplan Consultants held a meeting with the residents at the constituency office of parliamentary representative Dr Roodal Moonilal. Moonilal told the meeting that the residents were concerned about the lack of consultation and communication with them about the project.

Addressing more than 100 residents, the ministry’s project engineer Steve Garibsingh promised that there would be extensive dialogue with residents before the highway path is finally determined. Residents were assured that they would be properly compensated in a timely manner in the event that they are required to relocate.

Doolar Ramlal of the ministry’s Environment Unit said a comprehensive environment impact assessment is soon to be conducted in the area.

Trintoplan’s General Manager Ronald Nurse invited all residents to join Trintoplan and the ministry on a bus tour of the area for a first hand view of the path of the highway extension.

Many residents said they have embarked on the construction of houses, and have allocated plots for their children on lands which lie along the pathway.

MP Moonilal asked residents to present their own ideas by way of an alternative pathway. Moonilal called on the ministry to search for a pathway that would result in minimum relocation of the residents.