Inaccurate and misleading is how the Ministry of Finance describes a news release by the Tobago House of Assembly, which gives the impression instructions have been given by the Assembly to the Commissioner of State Lands to cease and desist from acquisition proceedings for lands required for the construction of the new terminal building at the ANR Robinson International Airport at Crown Point Tobago, and the Commissioner of State Lands has complied with these alleged instructions.
The Ministry of Finance says the THA has no such power to instruct the Commissioner of State Lands.
In a media release Friday, the Ministry said the lands in question are urgently required for the construction of the new airport terminal in Tobago and the State has been in discussions with the occupants of these lands for the last 3 years.
The Ministry said these protracted discussions have delayed the commencement of construction of the terminal building, and the cost of the delay is now millions of dollars.
It said in accordance and compliance with the law, and the prescribed procedures for applications to the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago, the State is taking all necessary steps to acquire and take possessions of the lands as an urgent priority in order to avoid further delays, and further cost escalation on this urgently needed and very important infrastructure project.
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