TSTT ordered to remove cell towers

Peter Permell, Vice Chairman and spokesperson of Association for Radio Frequency Emission Control in Trinidad and Tobago (Arfectt) said the towers failed to comply to the planning policy for public mobile telecommunication services.

“They therefore have to remove these illegal and unsafe towers immediately,” he said, adding that if they fail to do so, the owners or occupiers of the property would find TSTT liable to enforcement proceedings under the Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 35:01.

“Arfectt welcomes this significant development. We believe that this action against TSTT is vindication of the many months of complaints and protest action by residents of La Flourissante, Waterloo and other areas.

“This action represents a victory for all decent and law-abiding citizens who merely seek to safeguard themselves and families against other serious health safety risks that these towers pose, or to safeguard the values of their properties that they have worked so hard to acquire to preserve the aesthetics and amenity value of their beautiful residential communities that they have taken a long time to develop,” he said

Arfectt has reaffirmed its commitment to continue work with stakeholders of the Ministry of Planning and Development in order to balance the needs of the Town and Country industry with the need to promote the health and general well being of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.