STAY OFF PRESIDENT’S GROUNDS

The residents came out with placards bearing stinging words such as, "Red Card for Manning," "Keep Off Our Grass PM," "No Papa Doc in TT," "5 Acres Not Enough?" "Consult not Insult," "Where Will the Children Play," and "Respect is a Two Way Street."

One resident observed that the White House in the US comprises 15 acres, but the TT Prime Minister wanted 16 acres.

"And he already has five acres," he stated. One of the community’s spokespersons, Senior Council Desmond Allum, said the protest march was held to show the Prime Minister that President’s Grounds forms a special part of Cascade/St Ann’s and to show Manning the community’s strong feelings for the playing field.

"It’s integral to the life of the community and it provides a space for the young children and people to become positively involved in sports," he said.

He said the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) chairman Calder Hart told the residents at a recent meeting that no decision had been taken regarding the ground.

"Udecott is the executing agency for the construction of the Prime Minister’s house," he stated, "and Hart assured us that when the designs are completed, he’ll be consulting with the community."

However, the residents have already received a letter from the PM’s office advising them to find a place in the nearby Queen’s Park Savannah to play.

Another resident, Ernil Coker, described the grounds as the heart and soul of the community and said the PM has to study the area’s history and the field’s importance to the residents before anything else.

The leader of the Movement for National Development, Garvin Nicholas, said such a proposed move shows that the PM is not listening to the people. The head of the Keith Noel 136 Committee, Stephen Cadiz, described the PM’s proposed annexing of the President’s Grounds as a land grab.

"Of course it’s a land grab, but he can do what he wants," he added.

"There’s so much acreage in the PM’s compound," he said, "why does he need this? It’s the same high-handedness stupidness as before."

Manager of the La Famille/Soul Football Club, Derek Foncette, told Newsday that he was not in favour of the Prime Minister’s plan.

"I’m totally against this move," he said, "because this is the only place where members of our sports club and the wider community can take part in meaningful sporting activities."

Several athletes were also among the marchers voicing their anger and displeasure at the proposed State action. Members of the Northerns Rugby Football Club were part of the march and one of its members described the PM’s proposed plan as insane.

"We’ve been getting the permission of the President to use the grounds for years and I think it’s madness," he said. "He’s not thinking about the country and it’s not just residents from Cascade and St Ann’s who use the grounds, but also folks from Belmont and Maraval. So, what then is the alternative? And it’s not the Savannah."

Another Northerns Rugby player said the club has been using the grounds for the last 50 years and if they cannot use the field again, then the club will break up.

"I’m horrified at the prospect," he said.

Efforts yesterday to contact the Member of Parliament for the area John Rahael and the Minister of Sport Roger Boynes for their comment proved futile.