Secret contractors, represented only through high-powered attorneys, have begun unauthorised work on two stretches of land in Chaguanas and Oropouche, forcing the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to step in and order that work be halted.
One property, between MovieTowne Chaguanas and the Divali Nagar site, is being developed and belongs to a client of attorney Roopchan Chadeesingh. Chadeesingh is a board member of the state-owned National Gas Company (NGC) and has also been linked to Super Industrial Services (SIS), having reportedly been that company’s chairman in 2010.
In a brief interview, Chadeesingh confirmed that he was the legal representative for the “private client” behind the Chaguanas development.
“It is a client of mine but it is a private matter,” Chadeesingh said.
Though the term of the board of the EMA has officially come to an end, representatives visited the site last week to issue a stop notice. Insiders at the EMA said that days after the stop notice was issued, the construction company applied for the relevant approvals but did not stop the work on the site.
This prompted a second visit by the EMA on Friday to gather more information.
But Chadeesingh has denied that there was any stop notice issued for the Chaguanas development, saying that the EMA officials visited as a formality and did not stop the contractors from working.
Another four secret contractors are behind the multi-million dollar land grab and land fill operations on the water’s edge in Otaheite.
The Sunday Guardian understands that the executive at the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), though already at the end of its tenure, has been forced to step in and shut down unauthorised works along the waters in Otaheite.
The Sunday Guardian visited the site on Wednesday and again on Friday and witnessed a steady flow of unmarked trucks and equipment dumping and levelling tonnes of landfill on an empty stretch of land near the water next to Damus Oil Ltd in Oropouche.
On both occasions truck drivers and bulldozer operators could give no information on whom they were working for or what they were doing on the property.
Two nearby residents, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Sunday Guardian that the works have been going on for some time and named a government minister’s brother as the man controlling the operations.
The land is being filled and has already been turned into a small waterfront cove.
The now former chairman of the EMA, Dr Allan Bachan, confirmed that the work in Otaheite was being carried out by four contractors but could not go into more detail since the investigation is ongoing. He also confirmed that the work had been shut down until the proper documents were filed for approval.
Bachan said, on Friday, EMA officials visited the work site and “enforced action” to shut it down.
The Sunday Guardian understands that there are questions surrounding the entire project that is now being investigated, including when the property was sold, who bought it, and what the area is being prepped for.
The EMA also stepped in to stop what it claimed was unauthorised work in plain sight.
“They cannot proceed until they have the proper requirements,” Bachan said.
The Sunday Guardian contacted Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal who said he was unaware of the developments.