Residents worried over nature reserve

HOMEOWNERS at Cocoyea Village near San Fernando are calling on Prime Minister Patrick Manning to investigate rumours that the National Housing Authority (NHA) are planning to construct low-cost, high-rise apartments in the community. Some 260 residents signed a petition attached to a letter which was sent to PM Manning, who is their member of Parliament, objecting to the construction of low-cost housing at a site which residents say was designated for a nature reserve. On Thursday night, residents of Scotland Drive held a meeting to discuss rumours of the impending construction.  According to spokesperson Michael Charles, the reserve site which measures four acres, is being maintained by residents as a nature park even though the land has since changed ownership to the East San Fernando Housing Development Company Limited. Kamla Matthews, who has lived in the community for 25 years, said the reserve is home to over 25 species of birds, squirrels and even wildlife such as manicou and mongoose.

The residents have also sent a letter to the President of the Wild Fowl Trust, Molly Gaskin asking for her advice and assistance in saving the reserve. However, Operations Manager with East San Fernando Housing Development Company Stephen Rajanattan, sought to assure residents at the meeting that the land was earmarked for a school, and not housing. Rajanattan denied that the housing development company has been approached by the National Housing Authority (NHA) to purchase the land. Residents in the community are however, asking PM Manning to assist in clearing the air on the issue, which is causing a state of confusion. In a telephone interview yesterday, NHA Communications Specialist Gervon Abraham said that the NHA had no intention of building housing on the site. “The NHA builds within the law and government policy. So if a site is reserved for something then the NHA would not build within the land,” Abraham told Newsday.