The recent decision by the Court of Appeal to leave the "Western Savannah" opposite Westmoorings in the possession of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation highlights the wastefulness occurring under Government control.
I sincerely hope the legal costs of the recent litigation are charged 50 per cent personally to WASA officials who initiated the case, and 50 per cent to the UNC political party under whose dominant position in Government the case was allowed to proceed.
Here are two branches of Government left alone to play games, suing each other for possession of a piece of land, and accumulating ridiculous legal costs which are paid by us the taxpayers.
Meanwhile we the taxpayers have made it abundantly clear the need for green space is so apparent in these times that the area must be made into a savannah that all can enjoy and hopefully all attempts to use it for fetes and any other rowdy noise blaring function will be banned by bye-laws.
It only required the Minister of Planning to wake up and take notice of this need (which everybody else is aware of) and arrange for the PM to order the cessation of legal hostilities so that work on the savannah and associated traffic plans can start immediately. It would then not matter who owned it because neither of the parties would be able to make schools, Diego Martin Regional Corp offices or put housing on it. It would be handed to the people as a place of beauty, serenity, exercise and recreation.
Clearly WASA would be able to drill a few low-profile water wells as on the main savannah so ownership is not an issue requiring litigation.
I suppose this is just too obvious for anyone to hope for!
Reg Potter,
Glencoe.