An investigation conducted by the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) into alleged land grabbing at Picton Extension, Diamond Village, San Fernando has been completed.
Providing an update on the investigation on Tuesday, LSA Chairman Wayne Innis said his team went to the area under the jurisdiction of the LSA and found no encroachment.
“The investigation was conducted by officers of the LSA. They indicated no unusual activity related to land grabbing in any of the sites controlled by the LSA in the mentioned area,” he said.
However, community activist Destar Dythe said the area in question falls under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of State Lands. She mentioned that the land grabbers have already chopped down crops and fruit trees, knocked down fences, and threatened villagers at a portion of land next to the LSA-controlled lands.
Meanwhile, in response to this development, the chairman of the Penal/Debe Regional Corporation, Gowtam Maharaj, said he plans to write to the Minister of Agriculture, Kazim Hosein, the Commissioner of State Lands as well as the permanent secretary about the situation. Maharaj has increased patrols by the municipal police and encouraged residents to lodge reports with the police.
He called on the Commissioner of State Lands to investigate and the Ministry of Social Development to conduct a social impact assessment on communities in Marabella, Pointe-a-Pierre, and San Fernando, which continue to face economic hardship since the closure of Petrotrin.
Guardian Media understands that an investigation has been launched into the residents’ concerns.