The sudden retirement of commissioner of state lands Ian Fletcher leaves the door wide open for the land grabbing to continue. Fletcher retired last month and has not yet been replaced.
Land and Marine Resources Minister Jairam Seemungal confirmed that there was no commissioner of state lands in place. In a brief interview with the Sunday Guardian yesterday, Seemungal also confirmed that it was only the commissioner of state lands office that could enforce the State Land Act which prevented the illegal occupancy of state lands.
In the absence of a commissioner of state lands however, Seemungal is warning would-be squatters that they are occupying lands "at their own risk."
"Once a commissioner of state lands is appointed, then the office can leverage on illegal squatters," he said.
He said he expected to have that office filled "hopefully this week."
Fletcher's departure has left the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) in a quandary over the illegal occupation of state lands.
The Sunday Guardian has learned there are now serious concerns that well-placed people are involved in illegal, behind-the-scenes land grabs as only a commissioner of state lands office can say which land belongs to the State and which does not.
The empty office is already creating a problem for the EMA as it attempted to issue a stop notice on the contractors behind the million-dollar land works in Otaheite but have been unable to locate any of the contractors behind the secret project.
Two weeks ago, the Sunday Guardian reported illegal back filling from inland towards the sea in Otaheite and learned then that four secret contractors were responsible for the multi-million-dollar land grab and landfill operations on the water's edge in Otaheite.
The works are continuing unabated and the land is still being filled and has already been turned into a long stretch of waterfront property in the industrial space next to Damus Oil Ltd.
Outgoing EMA chairman, Dr Allan Bachan, in an interview with the Sunday Guardian on Thursday said he was surprised that no one, not even the workers on the job site knew who is behind the works. "Well, with no commissioner of state lands in place, I hate to think what could happen because only that office can enforce the State Lands Act," Bachan said.
Seemungal and Fletcher clashed months ago over an alleged illegal land occupancy by Super Industrial Services Ltd (SIS) in Couva.
While Fletcher had claimed then that SIS did not have any rights to the 35-acres property, Seemungal contradicted him, saying that SIS was legally occupying the land but refused then to divulge any details of the deal with SIS.