The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) was recently granted an injunction from the Environmental Commission against Michael Trestrail to immediately stop an excavation exercise being carried out at Mal D'Estomac Bay along the North Coast of Trinidad.Trestrail was allegedly carrying out activities under the Certificate of Environmental Clearance (Designated Activities) Order 2001 without having obtained a Certificate of Environmental Clearance (CEC) from the EMA.These activities allegedly included land reclamation and excavation and cutting of a coastal area. The injunctive relief filed on March 24 restrains Trestrail, his servants and/or agents from carrying out, among other things, reclamation activities; modification of watercourses and the cutting, grading or excavation of an area of land located at Mal D'Estomac Bay.
EMA CEO Dr Joth Singh explained: "The Environmental Management Act provides a legislative and non-compliance framework for managing the nation's resources. This is the first time the EMA has utilised the injunctive relief option."Dr Singh said the commission was given the power to grant injunctive relief under the EM Act to prevent an activity which would likely lead to a violation of an "environmental requirement" or to prohibit the continued violation of an "environmental requirement." He explained that the requirement to obtain a CEC for a designated activity such as cutting a coastal area was an example of an "environmental requirement."
