THA reports club to EMA for destroying trees

The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has reported Friday’s destruction of coconut and sea-grape trees at Pigeon Point to the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and other relevant agencies for “appropriate action.”

The THA is also considering its legal options in preventing any further action that would damage the environment at Pigeon Point. That was the word yesterday from THA Chief Secretary Orville London on Friday’s incident in which about 20 coconut trees on the property were felled, apparently to make way for a fence to be erected on the western boundary of the Pigeon Point property. Sea-grape trees growing on the beach were also cut down.  Friday’s action was the latest in a continuing dispute between the THA and Club Pigeon Point Beach Resort over public use of the beach and jetty. On Tuesday last the THA announced that negotiations between itself and the club had broken down and that it would move for compulsory state acquisition of the 60-acre property for public purpose. Only Cabinet can approve such action and the relevant papers were being prepared by the THA for submission to Cabinet. Last Thursday, Prime Minister Patrick Manning declared Cabinet “mindful” to facilitate the THA in its action for acquisition.

Yesterday London said: “Whether the recent cutting down of trees at Pigeon Point is legal or not is not the real issue, the issue is that the integrity of the environment at Pigeon Point must always be kept sacrosanct and the impact of any action must be evaluated and appropriate action taken.” London said the THA was extremely disturbed at the continued degradation of the pristine environment at Pigeon Point. “We have received a report from the THA’s environment officer and that has been forwarded to the EMA and other relevant authorities for appropriate action. The assembly is also exploring the feasibility of taking legal action to prevent the desecration of Pigeon Point,” he added. London stressed: “We must always be fully aware that the management of the Pigeon Point environment is critical to the survival of the Buccoo Reef and the Lagoon and other fragile environment in the area. As custodians of the heritage of Tobago, the THA must take the responsibility to curb any acts of degradation.”

The cutting down of the trees and the move by management at Pigeon Point to erect a fence effectively closing out the beach, is the latest development in the long-standing controversy between Ansa McAl, owners of the property, and the THA over public access to, and use of, the Pigeon Point beachhead. The action by Pigeon Point management coincides with moves by the THA for the compulsory acquisition of the entire Pigeon Point estate for public purposes. In this regard, London explained that the THA’s Executive Council had already approved the relevant Note. This Note will be confirmed at the next meeting of the Executive Council, following which the Executive Council Note will be forwarded to Cabinet. Once Cabinet approves the request for acquisition, the authorities will be prepared to enter the property. In the meantime, London said the Division of Public Utilities and Infrastructure was currently providing the Lands and Surveys Department with the relevant information in preparation for the surveying of the property at Pigeon Point. In full page paid advertisements yesterday in Newsday and the Guardian, Club Pigeon Point expressed disappointment at “this turn of events” following two years of negotiations but argued its determination that its rights as a private land owner and bona fide resort operator will be defended as the laws of Trinidad and Tobago provide.

Club Pigeon Point had offered: (a) 99-year lease of one acre of beach front land for the development of a fishing complex at Wind Hole; (b) a strip of land approximately 10 ft wide to enable unhindered pedestrian access to and from Pigeon Point beach and jetty; (c) financial assistance in restoring the Bon Accord Road leading to the proposed fishing complex and (d) collaboration with the THA on the management of Pigeon Point’s jetty, a national icon.