Aboud hits unregulated development

Newsday spoke to Aboud yesterday who said that unregulated and poorly managed projects in the El Socorro South extension has contributed to severe alterations of sensitive wetland which has not been approved by government.

“In El Socorro extension which is a very prominent industrial and residential area, all kinds of bulldozing and land filling and backfilling is taking place without any regional oversight from the corporations, from the town and country planning division or from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA)” “All of the bulldozing and filling of wetlands without any drainage plans. If the government wants to give an approval they would need to have a coordinated drainage plans, so even if the Cabinet makes a decision to disregard the national environmental policy, they have an obligation to the public to ensure that proper drainage.” A statement from the EMA yesterday revealed that land development in Rousillac was being investigated by the agency.

The EMA also revealed that a meeting between investigators and contractors were underway to ensure that building and environmental codes were being adhered to.

Aboud said that while he was pleased with the response of the EMA in this matter, he would like them to take on a more aggressive stance on errant contractors and developers.

“I congratulate the EMA for the investigation and the halting of the illegal works in Rousillac, but does that mean that they are also going to halt and prosecute the very prominent business sector in El Socorro extension.”