The Ministry of Works and Transport welcomes the unanimous decision of the Privy Council which has today dismissed the case of the Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFSO) challenging the decision of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) for granting a Certificate of Environmental Clearance to the Ministry for the construction of the Cumuto to Manzanilla Highway.
The Privy Council has unequivocally reaffirmed the decisions of the local courts in this matter. This decision has now cleared the way for the Ministry of Works and Transport and its agent the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (NIDCO), to proceed with the construction of this Highway in an expeditious manner, for the benefit of the citizens and particularly, the people of Sangre Grande, Cumuto and Manzanilla.
The Ministry wishes to reiterate that construction works never occurred and was never intended to occur on the Aripo Savannas as was asserted by the FFOS. On the contrary, it was always intended for the works to proceed in a manner to protect the environmentally sensitive area of the Aripo Savannas.
The Ministry remains resolute in its commitment to preserving this national treasure and undertakes to working closely with the EMA to minimize any adverse effect on the environment during the construction of the highway and to observe all the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Environmental Clearance. The Ministry thanks the people of Cumuto, Sangre Grande and Manzanilla for their patience during the stoppage of construction works and we look forward to continue working for the improvement of the social and economic lives of all our citizens.