Damage to ASA Wright and to My heritage

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-03-12/asa-wright-falls-under-backhoes-dynamite

http://www.oas.org/dsd/fida/laws/legislation/trinidad_&_tobago/trinidad_&_tobago_ema-2000.pdf

"calling on Government to call a halt to quarrying on the mountain ridge facing the centre. The call was made yesterday at a news briefing at the centre. It follows complaints from the centre, as well as local and foreign supporters, about quarrying in the area. Though the quarrying looks like a small scar on the hillside from the centre, to birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts it is not only an eyesore but a direct threat to the habitat of animals in an area known for its biodiversity"


My Ancestors used to own the land that presently consists of Asa Wright and stretches of the mountains and valley around it. Approximately 100 years ago the land was used for a cocoa estate , and there is still an estate house and a water mill in the valley.


My distant family still owns land in the valley north of Asa Wright and the mountains above it , so i am even more pissed than the average eco-activist.

The EMA as an authority is a huge white elephant that routinely fails to do its job. It might as well be closed down so that taxpayer dollars are saved.


I'v heard the bullshit argument before that it 'isn't in the EMA's purview to be a watchdog' and that the EMA doesnt have such powers..... Which is more crap , the powers the EMA needs to deal protect the environment are already in the Environmental Managment Act 2000.

Section 16 (h) of the act states that : " The functions of the EMA are to take all appropriate action for the prevention and control of pollution and the conservation of the environment"
Section 20 of the Act States that " The Authority has the power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions" .

Basically the Authority DOES in deed have the power to stop any act that damages the environment . Using broad interpretation a judge can read into the act ANY power that is required for the EMA to protect the environment.
Given that Trinidad and Tobago is a signatory to various International Environmental treaties , such an interpretation of the act must be taken in order to fulfill its treaty obligations ( Joseph and Boyce case and R v Lyons for the law students) .
Now that it can be said that the EMA does have the power to act and deal with environmental abuse , can its lack of action be tolerated?

I personally want all EMA executives to write a public apology to the nation for their incompetence. You are not only destroying the heritage of the nation, but MY personal heritage as well.

Get your act together , remember our tax dollars pay YOU . You are accountable to us. As it stands now the EMA might as well be closed down and those tax dollars saved, because it is failing its job.

Yes i want to fire you from your jobs sirs , and i mean every amount of disrespect that goes with that statement.