tidings
Terrell Percy, right. indicates his family’s belongings were removed from their home in Crompston Trace, Storebay Local Road, Bon Accord, on Thursday. – David Reid
Residents of Crompston Trace, off Silk Cotton Trace in Bon Accord, say life has been difficult since an attempt was made to evict them last Thursday. However, they say they are determined to stay on their property until the court says otherwise.
Efforts were made last Thursday to evict residents occupying Area D, which is part of land earmarked for state acquisition for the $1.2 billion airport expansion project.
The National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd, manager of the megaproject, has set aside $300 million for the land acquisition process. China Railway Construction is the main contractor.
In an interview with Newsday on Monday, Terrell Percy, whose family had their belongings removed from their home and placed on the side of the road Thursday, said his family has no backup plan if things go wrong.
“Right now, we’re just waiting until August 26 – after the (court) case on that day, then we’ll know what’s really going on.”
Percy said the weekend was difficult for his family.
“T&TEC did not connect the electricity, so we have to use a generator; wait up to three, four hours to let it rest before we put it back in – it’s really stressful. We also have a water problem”.
He claimed that the pressure in the pipes was lower than usual.
Another resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Newsday: “I prefer to wait until the 26th, until then I have nothing more to add.”
Provide Equal Compensation for All (PEECE) spokeswoman Rhonda Hackett said residents have left everything in the hands of their lawyers.
“They are still looking to discuss the matter through the court. It’s in the hands of the court now.”
Attorney Christlyn Moore, who represents the residents, said she had no comment at this time.
Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe has said six people with structures within “disputed Area D” negotiated and settled ex-gratia payments with the state at a total cost of $687,000.
Last Friday, the Judiciary made it clear that there has been no stay or suspension of proceedings by the court in relation to any of the families affected by the airport project.
“As a result of the hearings before the court on August 8 and 9, 2022, the Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries has been ordered by the Attorney General of TT not to issue a possession order in accordance with Article 30 of the land. Deed of purchase against occupiers and/or owners of plot numbered N61A, Bon Accord, Tobago, said to be now or formerly belonging to Joycelyn Mc Kenna, Horace Henry and others. This undertaking continues until August 26, 2022.”
In Zone A, resident Wolwyn Lovell said although he was not affected by Thursday’s action, the situation angered him.
“It is painful. Everyone on this side is upset about it now.”
Lovell claimed he had settled with the state and was awaiting payment when allegations arose that his father had previously received payment for the same property.
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Last August, Tobago West MP Shamfa Cudjoe said Lovell’s father had received a section three notice to buy his property on January 14, 1988 and submitted his claim for compensation on July 8, 1996.
She said Lovell’s father gave him a portion of the same property in 1995.
“From August 4, 2006 his father started receiving payments/cheques for the said land,” said Cudjoe.
She said Lovell’s father wrote to the State Lands Commissioner on April 16, 2008 saying the land would be released within a month of receiving the balance of payment.
Cudjoe said his father signed a bill confirming full and final payment for the purchase of the land on June 25, 2008, so the land should have been vacated by the end of July 2008.
However, she said Lovell was now making a special claim for some of the land the state had already purchased.
“Is Shamfa messing up my thing,” Lovell said, “I turned in and they gave me a bill, I was just waiting on my check. I took them to court before. My hearing is set for December. We can’t leave until finish the trial and they pay us and so on, but if that’s the verdict, we’d walk away.”
He reiterated that he is not aware of any money paid for the property where he resides.
“I don’t know anything about it. My father never lived here – my sister lives at the back and I live at the front because the grounds are split in two. I’m number one, and my sister is number two.”
