Farley vows to finish Friendship Connector Road

Tobago Correspondent

Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has pledged to explore every legal option to ensure the completion of the Friendship Connector Road project.

Speaking at the commissioning of part of the project yesterday, Augustine said, “Yes we know the challenge with the court matter, but we will find a legal way to complete this exercise in a timely manner.

“But, I pledge to you that this road would be completed before that airport (ANR Robinson International Airport expansion project) is completed.”

Yesterday, the THA commissioned the James Biggart Roundabout, Winston Murray Boulevard, Dr Jefferson Davidson Roundabout and Pamela Nicholas Boulevard.

The $70 million project includes the construction of a 2.5-kilometre, flexible-pavement, single-carriageway road; grading, bridge construction and culvert drain installation.

Since the beginning of the project, there have been several legal hurdles.

Early in the project’s development last year, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) filed the first court case against the development for lacking the necessary approvals from the THA.

Initially, the court granted the EMA an injunction to halt road construction, but it was later lifted, and a CEC was granted, prompting the THA to get the necessary requirements.

Then on February 28, Derek Hearn of Mill House 2, Friendship Estate, obtained an injunction, which halted construction on the road connecting Cove Road to Store Bay Local Road.

Hearn’s case argued that the THA failed to provide notice or consult with affected parties and breached the Land Acquisition Act.

The THA claimed that the estate had been acquired through compulsory acquisition in 2009 and that the project did not require additional planning permission.

However, the injunction was later lifted on March 19, with the agreement that no further work would occur on Hearn’s land until a final court decision was reached.

In April, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) faced a third injunction from Ray Shastri Rampersad and Savitri Rampersad.

The Rampersads, represented by Anand Ramlogan, SC, were granted an interim injunction to prevent the THA from entering and using their Kilgwyn Estate property.

The complainants alleged that the THA unlawfully entered their land between December 2023 and January 2024, causing damage and destruction to their property. The Rampersads are seeking damages for this alleged trespass.

This was the third injunction against the project in under a year.

During the commissioning ceremony, Secretary for the Division of Infrastructure, Quarries and Urban Development Trevor James lamented that the next hearing for this case was scheduled for 2025.

Despite these challenges, Augustine said he was confident the project would be completed, dismissing the legal setbacks as obstacles that would not deter the road’s progress.