The Tobago House of Assembly will be taking the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to court, over the National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme. Close to 100 workers in Tobago attached to the programme were terminated on August 17th of this year by the Ministry. London speaking at the weekly press briefing in Tobago on Thursday, said the court will decide the outcome of the matter.
“The THA will be applying for an administrative order, where the court will decide on two areas where we believe the THA’s right’s have in fact been infringed,” London said.
London said the THA is challenging the Ministry under Minister Ganga Singh, for continuing to interfere with the management and or implementation of the program. After being fired, workers were replaced by additional officials according to Mr. London.
“The decision of the authorities to have these government paid workers, operating on private lands,” London said.
The services of community groups were previously contracted in Argyle, Speyside and Belle Garden. The programme was established in 2003 with a mandate to increase the rate of forest regeneration with an aim to mitigate the deterioration of the environment.
Reproduced from Tobagonews
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